A judge today ordered the re-arrest of a man charged with trafficking on cocaine, following an urgent appeal by the Attorney General.

Oliver Vella, 26, was charged with aggravated possession and trafficking of cocaine charges and his case started being heard in Malta before he left for the United Kingdom.

His case was put off until he was found again and a European Arrest Warrant was issued. He was traced by British police who arrested him and extradited to Malta.  It was then that he was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €15,000.

However, Attorney General Philip Galea Sciberras argued that Mr Vella did not satisfy the conditions to be granted bail.

In revoking bail, Madam Justice Grima noted that Mr Vella had absconded from Malta and disappeared for almost 10 years. She also noted that bail had been granted because the prosecution, led by Police Inspector Nezren Grixti, had not objected.