Three of the five Somali men that were arrested yesterday after being found in possession of cannabis-resin have been remanded in custody, with one pleading guilty and the remaining two denying the charges.

Kheyre Heybe Mohamed, Sakariye Abdirahman Hassan and Abdirahman Aden Mohamud were arraigned separately by Inspector Frank Anthony Tabone before Magistrate Francesco Depasquale this morning.

Mr Mohamed, who lives in Sliema, pleaded guilty to possession of 3.8g of cannabis and relapsing. He told the court that he is currently unemployed. After being given time to reconsider his guilty plea, Mr Mohammed again confirmed that he will be pleading guilty. His sentence will be handed down on Wednesday.

Mr Hassan, 22, pleaded not guilty to trafficking and aggravated possession of cannabis, less than 100m from a place frequented by youths. He told the court that he currently works as a waste collector. Mr Hassan has no fixed address, and was therefore denied bail for fear of absconding.

Mr Mohamud, 22, was charged with trafficking cannabis resin as well as cocaine, and was also charged with aggravated possession of both less than 100m from a place frequented by youths.

He told the court that he was unemployed and had no fixed address because “the government did not want to provide him with an address”. The court had promptly quipped that it would be providing him with a fixed address, and held him under arrest.