A prominent lawyer's son has been bailed after denying charges of running a "drug supermarket".

Charles Winston Kempe, 27, pleaded not guilty to one charge of possessing 79 tablets of ecstasy with a street value of $3,950 with intent to supply, and one charge of possession of an undetermined amount of cannabis resin with intent to supply. He pleaded guilty, however to one charge of simple possession of cannabis.

Kempe was listed as having no fixed abode, although he told the court he was currently residing at Town Hill in Flatts.

Police told the court Kempe was arrested on Front Street in front of the Blue Juice bar on Saturday night and was held in custody until his court appearance yesterday morning. Kempe claimed he had been unable to get a lawyer as family and friends did not even know where he was.

Despite the objection of Crown counsel Juan Wolffe, Acting Magistrate Will Francis bailed Kempe for $10,000 with like surety. He was also ordered to surrender all his travel documents and report to the Hamilton Police Station between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Kempe was only able to pay the percentage of his bail required for his release just before yesterday's deadline, escaping another two months in custody. His trial date on Friday, June 27, in Magistrates' Court Two at 9.30 a.m.