Charged with trying to bribe policeman

A 40-year-old man from Luqa was yesterday charged with associating himself with others to traffick in heroin and with trying to bribe a police officer.

Emanuel Magri was accused of association with others in Malta and abroad to sell or traffick in heroin in Malta on Boxing Day and in the days prior to December 26.

He was also charged with trying to bribe Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara by offering him gifts or promising him money or another form of gift or advantage while being interrogated at the criminal investigation department at the police headquarters, in Floriana, on Boxing Day.

Magri pleaded not guilty.

After hearing submissions by defence counsel, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera ordered that the accused, who has been remanded in custody at the Corradino Correction Facility, be escorted to feed the animals he has on his farm in Luqa every day between 8 and 9 a.m. and again from 5 to 6 p.m.

The court ordered that the evidence of two civilians be heard as soon as Magri testifies.

Inspector Ciappara prosecuted.

Dr Giannella Caruana Curran is defence counsel.

Magri was arrested on Friday after a Bulgarian man was found in possession of half a kilo of heroin at Malta International Airport on Christmas eve. The Bulgarian, aged 29, had just arrived from Frankfurt.

He was arraigned and pleaded guilty to association with others with the intent to traffic in drugs and to importation, trafficking and possession of drugs not intended for personal use.