Jailed, fined for heroin trafficking

Saviour Cachia, 21, of Cospicua was yesterday imprisoned for 20 months and fined Lm300 after being found guilty of possession and trafficking of heroin.

Maria Muscat, 28, who was apprehended with Cachia, was found guilty of possession of heroin and placed under the care of a probation officer for three years.

Cachia and Muscat were charged with possession and trafficking of heroin between January and July 1999.

The court, presided by Magistrate Noel Cuschieri, noted that the two had been arrested by the police after a tip off which led to a surveillance operation close to a wartime shelter in Cospicua.

They had told the police they went there to make love but the police found items related to drug abuse inside the shelter.

Muscat later told the police she had abused heroin together with Cachia and that they used to buy it and consume it together.

Cachia denied he had consumed heroin on the date in question but admitted he had a drug problem and that he had abused heroin on the previous day. He also told the police there were times he had given drugs to others and there were also times when drugs were given to him.

The court decided that Muscat could not be found guilty of trafficking as she used to buy drugs together with the accused.

In passing judgment, the court noted various factors, including the age of the accused when the crime was committed as well as the report by the probation officers.

A prison sentence was given to Cachia both as a deterrent and also to give him time to finalise a rehabilitation programme.

Supt. Nicholas Ciappara prosecuted.