A 17-year-old boy was yesterday accused of ecstasy possession and trafficking, possession of cannabis and of committing another crime during the operative term of an 18-month probation order.

The teenager, whose name cannot be published since he is a minor, was accused of being in possession of 100 ecstasy pills on the night of 15 and 16 April. He was also accused of breaching a probation order handed down in December 2004.

Magistrate Anthony Vella heard the teenager plead guilty to possession of cannabis and ecstasy and to the charge that he committed a crime during the operative period of a previous court order. He, however, denied drug trafficking.

Magistrate Vella upheld defence lawyer Peter Fenech’s request for bail, imposing a condition that the accused starts a drug rehabilitation programme to kick the habit which has got him into trouble on various occasions.

Magistrate Vella also heard the defendant’s probation officer explain that the accused had not told her the entire truth about the seriousness of his addiction. She also promised to inform the court immediately if the urine samples she takes from the accused on a regular basis test positive for drugs.

He granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm2,000.

Police inspectors Dennis Theuma and Pierre Grech prosecuted while Dr Peter Fenech appeared for the accused.