Sender of 'anthrax' letter cleared

A Fgura man was yesterday cleared of simulating an offence when he sent an anthrax scare letter to a health inspector at the health department after a magistrate ruled it was "crystal clear" the man had no criminal intent.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro noted that Francis Zahra had immediately admitted sending the letter when he realised that what was intended to be a prank had escalated out of proportion.

Zahra, 46, was also cleared of threatening health inspector Hadrian Bonello on lack of evidence.

Magistrate Lofaro heard how, on October 29, 2001, health inspector Stefania Borg found a letter addressed to Bonello lying on the stairs at the department and handed it to the addressee.

But when Bonello opened it he saw there was grey powder inside and, suspecting it might be anthrax, he informed the Civil Protection Department who in turn informed the police.

While investigating the case Police Inspector Jeffrey Cilia, prosecuting, learnt that Zahra, who was a messenger at the department, had gone to a nearby football club for a cup of tea.

Inspector Cilia searched Zahra's car where he found a notebook and noticed that the handwriting matched the one on the letter.

Zahra initially denied his involvement but Inspector Cilia told him his handwriting matched the one on the letter and told him he had better speak up to avoid complicating matters and to avoid the expenses of sending the grey powder abroad for testing.

It was then that Zahra admitted sending the letter to Bonello and told Inspector Cilia he never thought that the joke would cause such a panic. He said that had he been present when Bonello opened the envelope he would have told him it was a joke immediately.

The magistrate noted that in order for the charge to be proven the prosecution had to prove that Zahra intended to "deceive or mislead justice".

She noted that when Zahra had been informed about the expenses that would be incurred to send the powder abroad he immediately admitted it was him that had planted the powder in order to avoid the expenses and to avoid matters complicating themselves.