The rights of Jordan Azzopardi are no different to those of other persons arraigned before the court, argued his lawyer as he once again made submissions on bail for the suspected drug dealer.

Al civilian witnesses have now been heard, lawyer Franco Debono told magistrate Doreen Clarke this afternoon and therefore the “principal hurdle” to bail had been overcome.

“There are other cases where people were caught with 80, 100, 300, 500 kilogrammes of drugs, who were given bail,” said the lawyer.

The inspector had spared no effort to bring all witnesses within a reasonable time and the court had heard them speedily. The case has now matured, said Debono. “I can spend from now, 1pm, till 6pm here quoting jurisprudence from the ECHR and the local courts on bail after civilian witnesses have been heard…I don’t think there is any fear which is not baseless that he will not appear.”

In order to outweigh the presumption of innocence, evidence must be brought, he said.

The possibility of tampering with evidence must be convincingly demonstrated, Debono argued, reminding the court that “the ‘possible’ has no standing at law.”

Jordan Azzopardi and his 31-year old girlfriend and mother-of-five, whose name was banned from publication under court order returned to the dock this afternoon as the compilation of evidence against them continued.

Azzopardi has been in police custody since his arrest in March. The woman has been out on bail since August 2.

She is currently pleading not guilty to criminal conspiracy, fraudulently circulating fake banknotes and defrauding three stores in San Ġwann and Sliema, along with her boyfriend who is also charged with drug trafficking.

The court, presided over by magistrate Doreen Clarke, declared that it would decide upon the bail request in chambers.

Inspector Mark Anthony Mercieca prosecuted, assisted by lawyer Ann Marie Cutajar from the Office of the Attorney General.

Lawyer Amadeus Cachia assisted the defence.