Man facing trial by jury remanded in custody for drug possession

Court orders ban on the publication of the identity of a man accused of drug possession because this could lead to bad publicity and an unfair hearing in a separate trial by jury he will be facing soon

The court on Tuesday issued a ban on the publication of the identity of a man charged with possession of more than 2kg of drugs, as he is soon to start facing a trial by jury in a separate case.

Police inspector Justine Grech said that the police had moved in to search the man's garage after observing him for some time.

They found a bucket full of cannabis resin and a block of cannabis grass. When searching the defendant's house, they also found a number of plastic bags filled more cannabis grass.

The man was charged with being in possession of drugs, in such circumstances as to indicate that it was not for his personal use.

He was also charged with being in possession of cocaine and breaching the conditions imposed on him in a previous case.

Lawyer Roberto Montaldo, appearing for the accused, asked the court for a ban on the publication of the identity of the man, as he would be facing a trial jury in a different case on 4 October.

Montaldo said he feared that making the man's identity public now would result in bad publicity for his client and would lead to a lack of impartiality by the jury members in his upcoming tiral.

Inspector Grech said that the prosecution, in the interest of a fair hearing in the other case, did not object to the ban.

Magistrate Marseanne Farrugia accepted the defence's request and banned the publication of the man's identity and personal details.

The accused was remanded in custody.