Man jailed for heroin

A Zurrieq man of Tunisian origin was yesterday jailed for a year for stealing a mobile phone from a restaurant and the possession of heroin.

Faical Mahouachi, 38, was found guilty of the possession of the drug, stealing the phone from Cottoner Bar and Restaurant in Fgura and relapsing in October 2000.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how Mr Mahouachi was at the restaurant with another man when he stole the mobile phone belonging to Pauline Debono who was serving customers.

The phone was near the cash register when Mr Mahouachi leaned over and stole it while Ms Debono moved away from the counter for a while.

Mr Mahouachi had denied stealing the mobile phone but, in a statement to police, he said that he had abused heroin earlier that day. Then, during a search at his residence, police found drug-related items.

Police Inspector Abraham Zammit prosecuted.