Two youths previously denied bail granted release on deposit

Two youths who were previously remanded in custody after allegedly locking police officers out of a Marsa stable and attempting to destroy evidence during a drug raid have now been granted bail.

Aden Christian Fenech, 24, from Birkirkara, and Zackery Majri, 20, from Tarxien, were released on bail under strict conditions, following a sitting before the Court of Magistrates.

Fenech was granted bail against a €5,000 deposit and a €10,000 personal guarantee. Majri was also released on bail under conditions imposed by the court.

The pair had been denied bail in December after police told the court they were found inside a stable on Triq il-Ġerrejja in Marsa, which was allegedly fitted with “counter-measures” to prevent police from accessing the location during a drug raid.

According to police testimony, officers had placed Fenech under surveillance and followed him on 15 December after he drove his mother’s Toyota Vitz to the area. The court had heard that once inside the stable, the door was shut and blocked with a wooden beam, preventing officers from entering for around 15 minutes.

Police told the court they heard repeated toilet flushing and the sound of objects breaking from inside the building, leading them to suspect that drugs were being destroyed and mobile phones smashed. Officers eventually forced their way in, where they found sachets of cocaine, cannabis grass and cannabis resin.

Fenech and Majri were charged with possession of drugs in circumstances indicating trafficking, suppressing evidence and disobeying police orders. Fenech was also charged with money laundering. Both men have denied all charges.

Police had also seized €5,500 from Fenech’s car, additional cash from inside the stable, and a large knife from the vehicle’s glove compartment. No drugs were found on Majri.

At the earlier stage, the prosecution had objected to bail, arguing that the accused had already tampered with evidence and that the circumstances pointed towards organised drug activity. The court had also imposed a freezing order, to which the defence had objected.

The bail decision comes weeks later in a sitting during which defence lawyers argued that the quantities involved were minimal, that Majri had no prior criminal record, and that both accused were young and could be rehabilitated, including through possible referral to the drug court at a later stage. The case is ongoing.

Fenech is being represented by lawyers Ishmael Psaila and Amadeus Cachia, while Majri is being assisted by lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri.