A man arrested during a police operation targeting a Qormi residence last month was granted bail pending the ongoing compilation of evidence over aggravated drug possession and relapsing.

Clayton McKay, a 25-year old Qormi resident, was one of three men taken into custody when police, reportedly investigating suspicions of bomb-making activity, zoomed in on the residence.

The search at the premises, reportedly leased out by the accused to migrants, had yielded no explosives but had led to the discovery of some 163 grams of heroin and 91 grams of cocaine in the suspect’s possession.

The man was subsequently arraigned, pleading not guilty to aggravated drug possession and relapsing, and was remanded in custody.

Almost two weeks later, as proceedings continued, Inspector Keith Arnaud testified about the circumstances which had led to the accused’s arrest.

Another witness, one of the other men who had been inside the property at the time of the police raid, refused to testify after being cautioned against possible self-incrimination.

At the end of the session, the court, presided over by magistrate Doreen Clarke, upheld a fresh application for bail against a deposit of €6,000, a personal guarantee of €10,000, an order to sign the bail book daily and to abide by a curfew.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia were defence counsel.