One of the five youths granted bail 11 days ago after pleading not guilty to assaulting Liam Debono has been remanded in custody after once again landed on the wrong side of the law.

Marlon Baldacchino, a 19-year old Żabbar resident, who works in the construction industry, was arrested in the course of a search on Wednesday at around 7.30pm in Triq ic-Cawsli at his hometown.

The young man was arrested after he was found in possession of cannabis and cocaine, barely a fortnight since he was granted bail over the incident involving Mr Debono, the 17-year-old youth charged with the attempted murder of PC Simon Schembri.

On Thursday afternoon, the youth was taken to court where he pleaded not guilty to charges of drug possession as well as to breaching bail conditions granted by Magistrate Gabriella Vella on November 4.

A fresh request for bail by defence lawyer Marita Pace Dimech was objected to by the prosecution.

Dr Pace Dimech declared that her client was “simply in the folly of youth” and had been “unlucky to get caught out”. He had taken up a regular job and had been dutifully abiding by bail conditions.

The lawyer also pointed out that the young man deserved help to reform himself.

However, duty magistrate Doreen Clarke upheld the prosecution’s objections pointing out the serious nature of the charges and the fact that the man failed to satisfy the guarantees requested by law.

The court also rejected a request for a ban on the publication of the man’s name, stating there was no legal basis for such request to be upheld.

Inspectors Sarah Zerafa and Paul Camilleri prosecuted.