Cleared of possession of cannabis resin

A Siggiewi man was yesterday acquitted of the possession of cannabis resin after a magistrate ruled that the charge had not been sufficiently proven.

Magistrate Noel Cuschieri found Jonathan Cachia, 22, not guilty of drug possession, ruling that the presence of cannabis grains in his car did not necessarily mean he had smoked cannabis.

He heard how Cachia and two friends were stopped at a roadblock in Zebbug on October 17, 1998, at about 9.30 p.m.

Police searched them and found nothing in their possession but spotted green remnants in the car which were later analysed for cannabis resin.

Cachia and his friends denied knowing anything about the grains but the friends admitted smoking cannabis resin in the past. Cachia, however, denied ever taking drugs.

Magistrate Cuschieri noted that the evidence brought by the prosecution did not necessarily create a link between Cachia and the grains.

Police Inspector Abraham Zammit prosecuted.