Kevin Gauci, a 21 year-old mechanic from Mellieha and Gordon Micallef, a 19 year-old plasterer from Birkirkara tody were charged separately with aggravated possession of 28 and 75 ecstasy pills respectively. They were both separately apprehended by the police on their way to a party in Armier.

They were also charged with being in the vicinity of an area where young people gather, although Mr Gauci’s lawyer argued that he was there purely because he was one of the people also attending the party.

Both pleaded not guilty and both defence councils asked for bail. While Mr Gauci was granted bail with a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €3,000, Mr Micallef was remanded in custody due to being a relapser.

Although Mr Micallef’s defence, led by lawyer Dr Joe Brincat, used the same arguments as Mr Gauci’s defence, which was led by lawyer Dr Lorna Mifsud Cachia, the former was not granted bail as he was found to be breaching bail conditions imposed on him after another court case last January. His previous charges were for possession of 90 ecstasy pills which were not for personal use.

In both cases, Magistrate Doreen Clarke presided while the prosecution was led by Inspector Jonathan Cassar.