A young man who was caught red-handed at the weekend with drugs stuffed in his private parts, was granted bail after pleading not guilty during his arraignment on Monday.

Luke Grech, 26 from Marsascala, was charged with being in possession of cocaine and cannabis under circumstances which showed that the drugs were not intended for his personal use.

The young man was arrested last Saturday at Marsaxlokk when police discovered some 22 sachets of cocaine and another sachet containing six grams of cannabis grass in his possession. The man was also carrying some €1,010 in cash.

Another sachet of suspected MDMA (ecstasy) was discovered inside the man’s car, whilst a further seven grams of cannabis grass were found in a garage later searched by the police.

The man was further charged with having committed the offences within 100 metres from a place visited by youngsters during the operative period of a suspended sentence and also with being a recidivist.

A request for bail by the defence was not objected to by the prosecution which, however, requested the court to impose strict conditions so as to ensure that the arrested man would steer clear from further trouble.

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech upheld the request for bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €1,000, besides an obligation to sign the bail book twice a week and to abide by a curfew between 11.00pm and 7.00am.

Upon being informed by the parties that the man had a drug problem, the court further issued a Treatment Order pending the continuation of the case.

“Go and get treatment. Stay away from trouble. The court is offering you help, now it’s up to you,” was the magistrate’s final word of warning to the young man as his concerned father looked on, nodding in agreement.

Inspector Frank Anthony Tabone prosecuted.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia were defence counsel.