A woman was arraigned before magistrate Silvio Meli yesterday and charged with importing 5,000 ecstasy pills, some of which were found hidden in a soft toy as she was entering Malta on Saturday.

Rita Bugeja, 49, from Qormi, but who has a British passport and was said to have relatives in Malta, was charged with conspiracy to traffic ecstasy and being in possession of the ecstasy pills.

Ms Bugeja pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her. Lawyer Edward Gatt requested the court to grant his client bail. He said she had relatives in Malta and was looking after her father, who needed constant help, even for the most basic natural needs. However, police inspector Nadia Lanzon said the woman did not even live at her father’s house so the excuse that her father needed her constantly did not hold water.

Moreover, she said, in view of Ms Bugeja’s possession of a British passport, the police thought it was doubtful that she would remain in Malta but would take the opportun-ity to flee the island in view of the criminal proceedings pending against her.

Magistrate Meli ruled that Ms Bugeja should not be granted bail and she was remanded in custody.

Police inspector Nadia Lanzon prosecuted while Dr Edward Gatt and Dr Anglu Farrugia appeared for the accused.