A magistrate today granted bail to a 39-year-old former security officer who was charged with being in the possession of cocaine with the intention to traffic the drug inside a Paceville establishment on New Year’s Eve.

Mark Allison, of St Julian’s, was released against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €3,000. 

Mr Allison, who was born in the UK but is a Maltese resident, was given bail against a set of conditions, including that he cannot approach the Paceville area or leave the country until the case is decided. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, including that he trafficked cocaine within 100 metres of a place frequented by youths.

Mr Allison was one of the 26 people arrested by drug squad police on New Year’s Eve following random checks in the Paceville area. He was found to be in possession of 29 readily packed sachets of cocaine – a total 20 grammes.

His lawyer, Alessandro Lia, said that his client has a drug addiction problem. He said that his client is still presumed innocent and that his last brush with the law before his arrest on 31 December, 2015 was some 16 years ago.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera presided over the case while Police Inspector Herman Mula prosecuted.