A reveller who was caught by police hiding a tin containing seven ecstasy pills in a car tyre four years ago was fined €1,170 for possession.

The court heard how on the night of August 14, 2005, the eve of the Santa Marija holiday, a police constable and a sergeant observed Jesmond Borg, 21, of Żebbuġ, hide an object in the tyre of a black Fiat Panda before entering a party at the Eden Ice Arena in St Julians.

On inspection, the police officers discovered a tin containing seven ecstasy pills. Three other pills had been hidden in the car’s bumper while three pieces of cannabis resin were also found in the car.

The police replaced the pills with stones before putting the tin back to where Mr Borg had hidden it. The youth returned to the car to collect the tin but threw it away as police officers approached. They informed him the pills had been replaced.

In court, he said the pills were for his own use, explaining he went to parties on occasion and sometimes took more than seven pills but had managed to fight his drug habit.

Karl Zammit testified that he was going to a party with Mr Borg and that the cannabis was his and the ecstasy belonged to Mr Borg.

Mr Borg was accused of drug possession in circumstances denoting it was not for his personal use.

In handing down judgment, Magistrate Laurence Quintano noted that, despite implausible versions which did not justify seven ecstasy pills in the accused’s possession, a “lurking doubt” remained, even if the suspicion that the pills were to be sold was very strong. The court found the accused guilty of drug possession but not of trafficking.

Magistrate Quintano pointed out that, as had already been highlighted by other courts, certain amounts of drugs in circulation – especially at a party as in this case – were of real danger, hence the €1,170 fine.

Police Inspector Pierre Grech and former Police Inspector Nadya Lanzon prosecuted.