A judge ordered the re-arrest of a man brought to Malta on the strength of two European arrest warrants saying there were not enough guarantees to justify bail.

The Attorney General filed an urgent appeal asking the Criminal Court to revoke the bail granted to Oliver Vella, 26, last Friday. Mr Vella was extradited to Malta from the UK to continue facing charges of aggravated possession and trafficking of cocaine in 2004.

When he appeared before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras the 26-year-old, who now lives in London, pleaded guilty to the drug charges.

The case had already started when Mr Vella left for the UK and had to be put off until he was traced in London. He was arrested by the British police and extradited to Malta.

Absconded from Malta and disappeared for almost 10 years

The Magistrates’ Court ordered a pre-sentencing report after defence lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha said their client had turned over a new leaf.

He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €15,000 and ordered to sign the bail book twice a day.

But Madam Justice Edwina Grima heard Assistant Attorney General Philip Galea Farrugia argue that Mr Vella did not satisfy the conditions to be granted bail.

He was living in a Sliema hotel, meaning he did not have a fixed address, and did not have any ties to Malta.

In revoking bail, the judge noted that Mr Vella had absconded from Malta and disappeared for almost 10 years.

She also noted that bail had been granted because the prosecution, led by Police Inspector Nezren Grixti, had not objected.