A bullet proof vest belonging to the police force, a pistol and several rounds of ammunition were found on the property of a farmer who was arraigned and granted bail today.

Michael Vella, 30, from Swieqi, who was arraigned under arrest, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by Inspector Daryl Borg but offered no explanation as to how the vest came in his possession.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja heard how the man was detained by the Valletta district police during a road block in Marsa on the night between last Monday and yesterday. Following a search in his vehicle, he was found in possession of less than a gram of a psychotropic substance, probably MDMA, a knife and six bullets.

Subsequently, the police raided his Swieqi residence and found a pistol with four loaded magazines as well as a bullet proof vest belonging to the police force.

Inspector Borg told the court that an investigation had been launched to establish how this garment had ended on the property of the accused, who gave no explanation about its acquisition.

The man was granted bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €3,000. His father offered to act as guarantor due to his son’s inability to affect the request payment, after being warned by the court that he would be held liable if his son would breached bail conditions.

Lawyer Kathleen Grima was defence counsel.