Man pleads guilty to heroin possession

A 59-year-old man yesterday pleaded guilty to the possession of about 200 grammes of heroin with intent to sell it and to the simple possession of cocaine.

Godwin Ellul, of Marsa, was charged with possession of cocaine and heroin in circumstances denoting they were not for his personal use and while being within 100 metres from a youth centre on and before Thursday.

Mr Ellul admitted to the possession of heroin when it was not for his personal use and only admitted to the possession of cocaine.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio, for Mr Ellul, made a request for bail but Police Inspector Nezren Grixti objected.

The officer said that in a statement Mr Ellul said he lived on Lm30 a week in unemployment benefit and that he consumed a gramme of cocaine a week. The inspector noted that Lm30 a week was not enough for Mr Ellul to buy drugs and, if granted bail, he would commit crimes to sustain his habit.

Dr Giglio said the argument brought forward by the prosecution did not constitute any of the reasons under which the law laid down that bail can be denied.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti upheld the request for bail and bound Mr Ellul against a personal guarantee of Lm1,000.