Sentence reduced in drug case appeal
A man who had been jailed for nine months and fined Lm500 for the possession of cocaine with the intent to sell had his punishment reduced to a Lm1,000 fine after an appeal court cleared him of the charge but found him guilty of simple...
A man who had been jailed for nine months and fined Lm500 for the possession of cocaine with the intent to sell had his punishment reduced to a Lm1,000 fine after an appeal court cleared him of the charge but found him guilty of simple possession.
Keith Stagno Navarro, 39, of St Julians, had been found guilty of being in possession of over seven grammes of cocaine with the intent to sell on and before October 1998.
On appeal, Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, heard how on October 7 of that year, the police carried out a search at the Stella Maris Band Club, in Sliema where Mr Stagno Navarro worked at the bar.
In a drawer in a room behind the bar, officers found 7.59 grammes of cocaine divided into 10 sachets.
On evaluating the case, the judge ruled that there remained a "lurking doubt" as to whether Mr Stagno Navarro was aware of the drugs.
Police Superintendent Neil Harrison prosecuted.
Lawyers Michael Sciriha and Ian Farrugia represented the accused.