31 cocaine sachets found on teenager following car chase

Aiden Bartolo, 19, from Għaxaq, was yesterday remanded in custody following a car chase on Tuesday morning, after which he was found to be in possession of 31 sachets of cocaine as well as five mobile phones. He was subsequently arrested.

Mr Bartolo had fled from Floriana in his father’s car after noticing that the police were suspicious of his behaviour. The police gave chase. The court heard that the former even ran a red light as he was fleeing.

Magistrate Charmaine Galea heard that the police had caught up with Mr Bartolo at the Park and Ride in Blata l-Bajda and found the sachets and phones, after which he was arrested and interrogated. The teenager was arraigned and charged with aggravated drug possession.

It was also brought to light that Mr Bartolo had violated an earlier suspended sentence delivered last November, and was therefore charged with breaching these conditions, which stated that he had to be at home between 9pm and 5.30am. The accused pleaded guilty.

The prosecution and defence suggested that the teenager should receive a two-year prison sentence along with a 15-month suspended jail term from an earlier judgment.

The judgment will be delivered by the court next Monday.

Inspector Jeffrey Scicluna prosecuted whilst lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili were defence counsel.