Updated | Serbian couple released on bail after drug find

34-year old Srdan Stevanovic and 50-year old Tatjana Skoric Tesic were arrested on Saturday after police spotted the couple acting suspiciously in a car, which sped off soon after

Two Serbian nationals have been released on bail after being arraigned under arrest on drug-related charges this morning.

34-year old Srdan Stevanovic and 50-year old Tatjana Skoric Tesic, who both live at the same St. Paul's Bay address, pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated drug possession, less than 100m away from a place frequented by young persons.

Prosecuting inspector Nikolai Sant told magistrate Doreen Clarke how the pair had been arrested on Saturday by a police patrol in St. Paul's Bay. The patrol had noted a couple “acting suspiciously in a car,” which sped off as soon as they spotted the police.

Stevanovic was found to be in possession of 45 pills - suspected to be ecstasy - and 50g of cannabis, while 11 of the pills, together with 13.5g cannabis had been found in Tesic's handbag.

A search of her home also returned a small sachet of cocaine, which the inspector said the woman had admitted to keeping for personal consumption. Tesic is already facing unconnected criminal proceedings, which are at appeal stage, the court was told.

Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco, appearing for both accused, entered a plea of not guilty and requested bail. She explained that the woman had been in Malta for the past 14 years, her daughter is married to a Maltese citizen and she has a fixed abode. These were sufficient ties to Malta, a fact recognised by the Constitutional court, said the lawyer.

She argued that the amounts were not large and pointed out that the evidence tallied with the woman's explanation of keeping the cocaine for her personal, recreational use.

With regards Stevanovic, the amounts were also not large, argued the lawyer. There was no fear that he would abscond and the fact that he is foreign should not be taken as a ground for claiming a flight risk. De Marco said that there was no risk of the accused tampering with evidence, as all witnesses were police officers. “There is no reason why they should not be granted bail.”

Magistrate Clarke upheld the defence's request, granting the woman bail against a deposit of €800 and personal guarantee of €3,000. The male accused was also granted bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €4,000 on condition that the accused surrender their travel documents and sign a bail book every day.