Witness withdraws allegations against accused

A witness for the prosecution, who had been caught with one-and-a-half kilogrammes of cannabis at the airport four years ago, yesterday withdrew allegations he had made against Mohammed Gharsalla who is accused of associating himself with people both in Malta and abroad to import cannabis into Malta.

Gharsalla, 29, a Libyan national who now resides in Birzebbuga, is undergoing a trial by jury in connection with the drugs charges. He is also accused of being an accomplice in the importation of drugs and that he had a big sum of money in his possession without the necessary permits.

Mohammed Abusetta, also of Libya, testified through an interpreter.

He had told the police that the drugs he was carrying were for the accused. He has already been given a 10-year jail term and had declared he was prepared to testify against the accused.

Answering questions by prosecutor Mark Said, Abusetta denied what he had said four years ago and insisted he had not said the truth. He said he was prepared to assume responsibility for his actions.

The prosecution requested the court to take note of the allegations so that steps can be taken against the witness.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono pointed out that four years ago, when Abusetta had testified under oath in his own case that he had imported the drugs under Gharsalla's instructions, the witness had sworn he was telling the truth and he was doing the same yesterday when emphasising that the drugs were not for Gharsalla.

Abusetta said the drugs were for another person and not for Gharsalla. He said to date he was afraid of this person, who lives in Libya, but not of Gharsalla. The witness said he is kept in a different section of the prison from the accused.

The trial did not continue in the afternoon as the prosecutor was taken ill. The case was put off for today in the hope that Dr Said will be able to resume his duties. Alternatively, another lawyer from the Attorney General's office would prosecute and if this is not possible, the trial would have to be dissolved.