Jail, fine for heroin pusher

A 40-year-old man was yesterday jailed for three-and-a-half years and fined Lm2,000 for trafficking in heroin nine years ago.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman found Spiridione Tanti Costa, 40, guilty of trafficking in the drug on and before December 1996 and relapsing.

The magistrate heard how the police had arrested Mr Tanti Costa and Eileen Gatt at City Gate, Valletta, when they found five sachets of heroin on the ground next to them. During a search the police also found Mr Tanti Costa to be in the possession of citric acid.

During her testimony Ms Gatt told the court that on the day of her arrest she had bought five sachets of heroin from Mr Tanti Costa and threw them on the ground when she saw the police approach.

She paid Mr Tanti Costa Lm5 for each sachet but he gave her a discount on one of the sachets, bringing the total to Lm22, because it was Christmas time.

Ms Gatt said she had bought heroin from the accused on previous occasions and also described his wallet to the police.

Although Mr Tanti Costa did not take the witness stand, as was his right, in a statement to the police he had denied selling the drugs to Ms Gatt.

On evaluating the evidence Magistrate Hayman noted that Ms Gatt's description of Mr Tanti Costa's wallet was correct.

The magistrate ruled she was satisfied that the charge had been proven and on handing down judgement she noted that a Caritas officer had informed the court that Mr Tanti Costa had undergone positive change in his battle against drugs.

Police Superintendent Neil Harrison prosecuted.