The police yesterday afternoon charged Sebastian “Bastjan” Dalli with conspiring to traffic in cannabis resin, in connection with what was thought to be 30 kilogrammes of cannabis resin, and later proved to be mere soap.

Mr Dalli, 52, from Qormi, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to traffic in the drug on and before 27 December, illegal possession of a firearm or ammunition on 3 February, skipping police bail between 30 December and 19 January and relapsing.

Mr Dalli, the brother of Social Policy Minister John Dalli, was ordered to be held at Corradino Correctional Facility.

The court, presided over by magistrate Anthony Vella, heard the defence counsel request bail on account that his client was reliable to the extent that he was granted police bail. Mr Dalli, said lawyer Arthur Azzopardi, has family ties and has business in Malta, while his police record did not show that he was an unruly type. Furthermore, said Dr Azzopardi, Mr Dalli reported to the Police Headquarters whenever he was asked to do so and that he could not possibly interfere with the evidence.

Senior Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara said that Mr Dalli showed an utter disregard to authority as he left for Libya while he was on police bail, even though its conditions clearly stated that he should have sought the police’s authorisation to leave the island.

Magistrate Vella turned down the request for bail and remanded Mr Dalli in custody.

Police Inspectors Norbert Ciappara, Jesmond J. Borg and Johann J. Fenech prosecuted while Dr Arthur Azzopardi and Dr Ian Farrugia represented the accused.

Rupert Busuttil, 34, from Marsa, Carmelo Borg, 31, from St Paul’s Bay, Marvin Debono, 22, from Mtarfa, and Paul Azzopardi, 39, from Valletta have also been charged with conspiring to deal in 30 kilogrammes of cannabis which was imported from Libya on a sailing boat called Jolly Roger.

The “cannabis resin” in question later turned out to be soap.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli referred to the case in a brief statement yesterday, saying he had been informed that charges had been issued against his brother.

He said he had learned of the case from the newspapers some days ago and he had immediately spoken to the Prime Minister. On his part, the Prime Minister confirmed that the matter “did not involve me in any way”, Mr Dalli said.