The owners of Smoko Bar, in Bugibba were today granted bail following a previous decision to have them remanded in custody, after court documents failed to arrive from the Gozo courts.
In prior sittings, the court had turned down the request for bail because certain documentation was being kept at the Gozo Court. The court also needed to hear the evidence of Nathan Portelli prior to granting bail.
Today, the prosecution held that the documents had still not arrived from Gozo and furthermore, the main witness could not testify as he was undergoing a drug rehabilitation programe and could not attend court.
Magistrate Edwina Grima upheld the bail request stating that the accused cannot be kept in custody indefinitely due to administrative issues which have delayed the arrival of documentation from Gozo. She also held that an application was filed today by Nathan Portelli's lawyers claiming that the witness is currently undergoing a drug rehab programme and cannot leave the programme and attend court to give his version of events.
Patrick and Ruth De Bono are facing charges of drug possession and trafficking following a raid at their bar on 12 April, during which police officers found another two people inside the premises in possession of drugs. The police also searched the couple's residence and on 23 April charged the couple with drug trafficking. They were also accused of trafficking drugs within a distance of 100 metres from a school or club, permitting smoking in their establishment, allowing underage people inside the bar and relapsing. They pleaded not guilty.
The defence counsel asked the court to take into consideration that the commercial outlet owned by the accused has been closed for a number of weeks and the owners are in financial difficulties. The court granted bail to the accused against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €10,000 each.
Inspectors Gabriel Micallef and Joseph Busuttil prosecuted while lawyers Andy Ellul and Vincent Micallef appeared for the defence.
The case continues in July.