The man arrested near Manoel island after escaping from police custody, has been indicted after the court found there to be sufficient evidence.

He was arrested in connection with burglary on August 17. The court heard that on June 9, police received a report stating that three masked men had robbed a 92-year-old Birzebbugia home. Inspector Saviour Baldacchino told the police that the woman originally said around €200-€400 was stolen, however they later found the amount to be €5,000. One of the items stolen was a necklace from around the elderly woman’s neck, and she was pushed onto a bed by one of the assailants before they left.

The inspector said that on July 2, a tip was received by the police regarding the whereabouts of the accused and an arrest warrant was issued. Mr Busuttil was arrested alongside his former girlfriend, Donna Sciberras and both were investigated.

The inspector said that the police had searched Mr Busuttil’s home, and found cannabis buds on his bed, a cannabis crusher under his bed, and an envelope with suspected cannabis grass with a foreign stamp on top.

He told the court how Mr Busuttil excaped. The inspector climbed the spiral staircase from his bedroom to the roof, and realised that Busuttil and the Sergeant were no longer in the bedroom. “I heard the sergeant screaming “Where is he going?” and I climbed down”. The duty magistrate was informed of the escape and the items found in the room.

Officers gave chase and at the same time, officers searched the washroom in the presence of his mother, where 14 grams of cannabis buds were found.

Busuttil, when caught, was charged with escaping police custody, and was kept at Mt Carmel.

The Inspector said the accused spoke to his lawyer, Jason Azzopardi, and did not answer most questions.

Inspector Justine Grech also testified, and told the court that the police found Facebook chat messages with a Ugandan on his mobile. The “chats” were about a parcel sent to the accused and explained that the new official at customs could not be bribed, thus the drugs had to be hermetically sealed.

The chat also revealed that heroine and cocaine samples were sent, the court heard. He was placed under a bill of indictment and the case will continue in September.