Curfew extension granted to champion bowler

Champion bowler Sue Abela, one of 19 people charged with drug conspiracy, was yesterday conceded a two-hour curfew extension once a week to attend training sessions for upcoming leagues in which she will represent Malta.

Magistrate Carol Peralta yesterday revoked a previous bail ruling in which Abela, Trudy Testa, Mona Camilleri, Yvette Muscat, Albert Bugeja, Carmen Armeni, Sylvana Bugeja, Isaac Chetcuti, Daniel-Victor Bonnici and Noel Borg were ordered not to leave their house without authorisation.

He altered their bail conditions by allowing them to leave the house but establishing a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and binding them to sign at a police station twice a day.

Anthony Gatt was granted bail under the same conditions.

Abela was however allowed to stay out till midnight on Thursdays. She was also given special leave to attend the ceremony for Sportswoman of the Year on January 25 because she is one of the nominees.

The ruling on bail was given in the compilation of evidence against Emanuel Camilleri, 37, better known as il-Bully, his girlfriend Testa, 27, of Mqabba, his former girlfriend Abela, 36, of Sliema, and his brother John, 34, of Mqabba, Mario Camilleri, 40, l-Imniehru, his wife Mona, 30, of Valletta and his son Pierre, 20, Charles Muscat, 35, il-Pips, his wife Yvette, 38, of l-Iklin and Alfred Bugeja, 44, il-Porporina and his brother Albert, 30, of Gzira, Anthony Gatt, 49, and his girlfriend Carmen Armeni, 41, of Mqabba and Armeni's sister Sylvana Bugeja, 29, of Gharghur, Romeo Bone, 26, of Floriana, Chetcuti, 25, of Sliema, Borg, 29, of Bahar ic-Caghaq, Bonnici, 26, of Burmarrad and Juma Said Karfoosh, 35, of Hamrun.

They are charged with conspiring to traffic in cocaine and cannabis and to commit a crime on and before May 30.

Chetcuti, Sylvana Bugeja and Charles Muscat are also charged with drug possession.

Emanuel Camilleri, Mario Camilleri, Alfred Bugeja, Bone and Chetcuti are also charged with relapsing and Bone is also charged with breaching the conditions of a previous release.

Emanuel Camilleri is the only one who has opted to file a guilty plea to all the charges brought against him.

Bone was yesterday granted bail on condition he does not leave his house without authorisation while Alfred Bugeja, who had requested bail to attend a rehabilitation programme, was told he would first have to be accepted in a programme.

Pierre Camilleri, John Camilleri and Karfoosh were denied bail.

The case continues.

Police Inspectors Neil Harrison and Norbert Ciappara are prosecuting.

The defendants are being assisted by Dr Deborah Attard, Dr John Attard Montalto, Dr Jason Azzopardi, Dr Joseph Brincat Dr Kris Busietta, Dr Giannella Caruana Curran, Dr Franco Debono, Dr Ian Farrugia, Dr Joseph Giglio, Dr Chris Grima, Dr Kenneth Grima, Dr Anna Mallia, Dr Emmanuel Mallia and Dr Michael Sciriha while Alfred Bugeja is appearing unrepresented.