Drugs suspect back in the dock

A magistrate yesterday ordered that Joseph Lebrun, 48, of Marsascala, would continue to face compilation proceedings after the Attorney General filed a warrant of arrest contesting his acquittal.

Mr Lebrun was last month cleared of involvement in the importation of seven kilogrammes of heroin.

On November 23 Magistrate Anthony Vella had ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove his involvement to the level required by law.

The Attorney General issued a warrant of arrest against Mr Lebrun for the criminal proceedings to continue despite the decision of the Magistrates' Court.

Mr Lebrun's defence team have filed an application before the First Hall of the Civil Court claiming that the warrant of re-arrest was in breach of his fundamental human rights and was also in breach of the Constitution and the European Convention.

Mr Lebrun is pleading not guilty to charges of conspiring to deal in heroin and importing and trafficking in the drug on and before June 6.

He was the fourth man to be charged in connection with the drug find. The other three were Silvio Buttigieg, 32, of Cospicua; Angelus Vella, 52, of Cospicua and Jason Said, 32, of Fgura.

Police Inspectors Norbert Ciappara and Dennis Theuma are prosecuting.

Lawyers Franco Debono, José Herrera and Joseph Giglio are appearing for Mr Lebrun.