Labour Deputy Leader Toni Abela today was fined €100 for contempt of court after failing to appear in court to defend a client over drug related charges.

His client informed the court, when summoned this morning, that Dr Abela was abroad.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, irked that the lawyer did not even bother to inform the court about his absence, fined him €100 and said the fine will not be revoked.

Police Inspector Dennis Theuma told the court that the prosecution had closed its case in 2013 and the case was still pending evidence produced by the defence.