A Colombian man charged Saturday in connection with the case of a dismembered body found in a suitcase in the sea off the Sliema Ferries promenade has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty.

The police are ruling out murder charges at this stage. The 43-year-old Colombian who was arrested Thursday is facing accusations of promoting a criminal organisation, trafficking drugs, criminal association, money laundering, hiding a body and trying to cover up a crime.

The victim, who has not been identified, is also believed to be Colombian, the police said in a press conference before the arraignment. An autopsy ruled that he had died of asphyxia.

The Colombian, named in court as Andres Leonardo Gamboa Duran, from Cucuta, was arrested in an Msida apartment last Thursday. A Portuguese man, who was in the same building, was also arrested.

The autopsy on the victim, who was found dismembered, discovered that he was carrying 101 capsules containing cocaine.

The body was found last Monday by two young people who were on a paddleboat.

This morning, Police Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud told the media in a press conference that the victim was wearing just a nappy, and his hands and feet had been chopped off and placed in the luggage along with the rest of the body. The man had already been dead when his body was dismembered.

The police also found drug related items in the same property where the two men were arrested.

At the arraignment, the court was told that the luggage in which the body was found had been bought from a shop in San Gwann together with an axe which is believed to have been used to chop parts of the body.

The accused said he is unemployed and the defence did not seek bail. The court, presided by Magistrate Marse-ann Farrugia, also froze his assets.

Inspectors Kurt Zahra and Wayne Camilleri, assisted by lawyers Kaylie Bonett and Dejan Darmanin, led the prosecution.

The Colombian man was assisted by legal aid lawyer Yanica Barbara Sant.