Jail, fine for heroin pushing

A man was yesterday jailed for seven years and fined Lm4,000 for trafficking in heroin and for possession of cannabis with the intent to sell nine years ago.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro found Sandro Mifsud guilty of dealing in the drugs in a Gozo apartment on August 12, 1996.

The magistrate heard how the police had arrested Mr Mifsud and Nicky Deguara when they found 10 heroin sachets and cannabis in a Marsalforn apartment.

Mr Mifsud said the drugs belonged to Mr Deguara. He said he had invited Mr Deguara to join him and his family in the Gozo apartment because he believed Mr Deguara did not have any drugs.

In another version Mr Mifsud said that when a friend of his needed to buy drugs he suggested asking Mr Deguara in Gozo.

The magistrate noted that, unlike Mr Mifsud, Mr Deguara had always maintained a consistent version. He explained to the police he sold drugs on Mr Mifsud's behalf and kept a couple of sachets for his (Mr Deguara's) personal use.

On evaluating the evidence the magistrate ruled that the prosecution had sufficiently proven the charges brought against Mr Mifsud.

The magistrate also noted he had previous convictions and had been given several chances by the courts to change his ways.

Drug trafficking, she said, was one of the most serious and condemnable crimes listed in the Criminal Code and therefore Mr Mifsud deserved imprisonment. She ordered that the time spent in preventive custody be deducted from his jail term.