Jail term quashed

A man who was originally jailed for trafficking in cannabis resin yesterday had the jail term lifted after an appeal court cleared him of trafficking but found him guilty of the simple possession of the drug.

Michael Cini had been originally jailed for six months and fined Lm200 for trafficking in cannabis within 100 metres of a school or youth centre on and before April 2002.

However, following an appeal filed through Cini's lawyers Dr José Herrera and Dr Roberto Montalto, Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano noted that Cini had been found in the possession of about 10 grammes of cannabis resin. The amount was compatible with Cini's "smoking habits" and, in the circumstances, the first court could not have reasonably concluded that the drug was not for his personal use.

For this reason the judge cleared Cini of trafficking in the drug and found him guilty of simple possession and was fined Lm200.