Tougher bail conditions for men, pregnant woman found with drugs in Marsa stables

Two men and a pregnant woman, who were caught in the possession of cannabis, heroin and cocaine during a drugs raid at a number of stables in Marsa last week, had their bail confirmed and harsher conditions imposed after a judge rejected the Attorney General’s appeal.

Rosario Cortis, 31, of Qormi, and Carmel Muscat, 40, of Rabat, and Erika Vella – a 27-year-old pregnant woman who was locked in a garage packing drugs – are pleading not guilty to the aggravated possession of 400g of cannabis resin, 150 packets of heroin, and 30g of cocaine.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and were all granted bail.

However, bail was opposed by the Attorney General. In his appeal, the AG requested that the appeals’ court revokes bail, arguing that the crime is “of serious nature.”

On its part, the defence insisted that bail should not be revoked because the accused did not breach any bail conditions. The defence also argued that the main witnesses against the accused are set to be summoned within the next few days, “consequently mitigating any possibility of evidence tampering.”

In his decree this morning, Judge Michael Mallia upheld bail but increased Muscat’s deposit to €3,000 from €1,000. Cortis and Vella’s deposits were increased to €2,000 from €1,000.

Sources said the search was carried out after receiving a tip off about suspicious activity.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri, and Kathleen Grima were defence counsel.