A suspected drug trafficker tracked down by the police upon information supplied by a man who had allegedly bought some 200 ecstasy pills from him was denied bail upon his arraignment on Wednesday.

James Manfré, a 24-year-old from Msida, pleaded not guilty to trafficking ecstasy, cocaine possession and committing the offences within 100 metres of a place frequented by youths.

He was further charged with commiting the offences while under probation.

Prosecuting Inspector Jonathan Cassar explained how a man, by the name of Skotadis, had been arrested for illegal possession of drugs, later releasing a sworn statement wherein he claimed that the 200 ecstasy pills found in his possession had been purchased from Mr Manfré.

A key belonging to Mr Manfré’s car had also been found in possession of the other man.

Mr Manfré was arrested and released on police bail since he had required medication, before being arraigned on Wednesday.

A request for bail was objected to by the prosecution mainly because there were civilian witnesses who were still to testify. The man who had allegedly bought the drugs was “an indispensable witness” Inspector Cassar stressed, informing the court that the witness had allegedly already been approached by Mr Manfré’s father.

Moreover, other civilian witnesses were also to testify, the Inspector continued.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono countered that since the main witness had already released a sworn statement his testimony was preserved in the acts of the case and could in no way be altered or retracted.

Moreover, similar cases of trafficking were prosecutable under writ of summons rather than under arrest.

“There needs to be a distinction between the arrest of a suspect and arraignment under arrest,” stressed Dr Debono, stating that the courts needed to give some direction in this regard.

After hearing submissions by both parties, duty magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech adjourned the hearing, later delivering a decree in chambers whereby the request for bail was turned down.

Lawyer Amadeus Cachia was also defence counsel.