Man charged with drug dealing in Paceville

A man accused of drug dealing has been remanded in custody after a court was told how he was arrested with cocaine, cannabis and a knife in Paceville.

Cisse Ousmane, 25, from Senegal, was charged with dealing in cannabis resin, as well as possession of cannabis and cocaine under circumstances that indicated he intended to sell them. The charges were aggravated due to the fact that he was arrested in a place where young people habitually met. Ousmane was also found to be carrying a knife at the time.

Sources explained that a police patrol had spotted the accused apparently selling drugs to two Italian girls near the Axis shopping mall in Paceville at around 3:30am on 21 November. While officers were approaching the man, he was seen to throw something away. The discarded items were later recovered by the police and found to consist of cannabis resin and cocaine. It is understood that the two girls had previously been charged before a drugs court, where they had testified to having been sold the drugs by the accused.

During his arraignment this morning, Ousmane informed magistrate Audrey Demicoli that he lacked the financial means to engage a lawyer. Lawyer Joseph Ellis was appointed legal aid by the court.

The accused explained that he was currently unemployed, having previously worked in construction. Inspector Trevor Micallef told the court that the accused had told the police that he had nowhere to live and would sleep on bus stops.

The defence entered a plea of not guilty.

Bail was not granted. The court recommended that the accused be held at the forensic unit at Mount Carmel Hospital for his own safety.