Drug traffickers jailed

In separate cases, six men were yesterday put behind bars, for terms ranging from six months to two years, after they were found guilty of trafficking or planning to sell drugs.

These men -from different parts of Malta and all walks of life - were all jailed during a drug case sitting presided by Magistrate Lawrence Quintano.

Young, talented singer

Glenn Bezzina, 24, of Valletta was jailed for two years and fined Lm600 for the possession of cocaine and ecstasy with the intent to sell and for committing the crime during an operative suspended 12-month jail term.

The magistrate heard how police had arrested Mr Bezzina at a private party. He was found in a bathroom with two girls in the possession of 24 ecstasy pills and four sachets containing 1.4 grammes of cocaine in total.

He told police that he bought the drugs, that day, for his own use. He bought a larger amount than that required for one night because it was more worth it.

The magistrate also heard how, three years before his arrest, Mr Bezzina had completed a drug rehabilitation programme that cleaned him from his addiction to heroin.

But Magistrate Quintano was not convinced that Mr Bezzina's drugs were for his personal use. He jailed him for two years and ordered that the 12-month suspended jail term be put into effect.

He also fined him Lm600 and ordered that the time he spent in preventive custody be deducted from his jail term.

The magistrate also heard how, in dealing with the young man, probation officer Marietta Lanzon found that he was a talented singer.

Former police constable

Former police constable Gerald Manfre was jailed for two years and fined Lm800 after he was apprehended, in the possession of about 2.5 grammes of cocaine, while on his way to a bachelor party.

Mr Manfre, 35, of Msida was found guilty of the possession of cocaine with the intent to sell and committing the crime when he was a police constable, and therefore, duty bound to prevent the crime.

Mr Manfre was arrested on March 29, 2004, after police were tipped off that he was in the possession of drugs. During a search five foil sachets, each containing about half a gramme of cocaine, were found in his pocket.

Investigations revealed that he was on his way to meet some friend, in a nearby hotel, for a bachelor's party.

The magistrate also heard that Mr Manche had entered the police force in January 1994 and resigned the day after his arrest.

The magistrate ordered his general interdiction and the publication of the judgement in the Government Gazette.

Marsa man cultivates cannabis

Thirty-two-year-old James Debono was jailed for six months and fined Lm230 after the magistrate heard how he took a couple of hours leave from work to attend a meeting at Sedqa the day he was arrested for cultivating 29 cannabis plants.

The magistrate heard how in March 1999 the police were informed that Mr Debono, of Marsa, was selling drugs and, during a search at his house, police found cannabis resin, a planter where cannabis seeds had been planted, and an air pistol.

Mr Debono told police that he had been taking cannabis since he was 16 years old. Three years before his arrest he had put some seeds aside and, a few days before the search, he decided to plant the seeds because he was curious to see if they would germinate.

He denied ever selling drugs and explained that, on the day of the search, he had taken four hours leave from work to attended counselling at Sedqa.

On evaluating the evidence the magistrate found Mr Debono guilty of cultivating the cannabis plant, the possession of the drug and the illegal possession of a fire arm.

Pays employee in ecstasy

A Sliema man was jailed for 15 months and fined Lm400 for providing his employee with ecstasy instead of part of his salary.

Geoffrey Debattista was found guilty of the possession of ecstasy with the intent to sell and delivering drugs to his employee outside the detox centre in July 1999.

Police noticed Mr Debattista hand over a packet of cigarettes to a certain Mario Chircop. When Mr Chircop realised that he was being watched he threw the packet on the floor. Police picked up the packet and found that it contained 37 ecstasy pills. One of the pills had the words "Ssar dust" on it while all the others bore the Mitsubishi logo.

Mr Chircop told police that he depended on Mr Debattista both for employment and drugs. He said Mr Debattista had given him ecstasy and heroin in the past and deducted payment for the drugs from his salary.

Sells drugs near prison

A 32-year-old man from Paola was jailed for eight months after the magistrate found him guilty of trafficking in cocaine and relapsing 10 years ago.

Police first started investigating Daniel Montebello over a case of forged cheques.

Following a report that forged cheques were being used the police arrested two men who admitted to forging the document, cashing it and giving the money to Mr Montebello for cocaine.

On investigating the forgery police eventually took criminal action against Mr Montebello and charged him with drug trafficking.

Mr Montebello denied selling drugs to anyone but the two men testified on how they bought cocaine from him near the prisons in Paola.

On taking note of all the evidence presented before him, Magistrate Quintano found Mr Montebello guilty as charged.

Roadblock leads to cannabis plant

In another case a 43-year-old man was jailed for eight months and fined Lm300 for selling a cannabis plant to another man.

Emanuel Fenech, of Gudja had been charged together with Keith Psaila, 28, of Zejtun. They were both charged with the possession and trafficking of cannabis in May 1997.

The magistrate heard how a certain Carl Bonnici had been stopped in a roadblock and found in the possession of cannabis.

During a search at his house the police found a cannabis plant.

Mr Bonnici said he had bought the drug and obtained the seeds from Mr Fenech who worked at the Zejtun bocci club. He added that Mr Fenech used to be in the company of Mr Psaila but he never bought drugs from the latter. As for the plant, Mr Bonnici said Mr Fenech had given him the seeds to plant on the condition that he would give him part of it once it grew.

Magistrate Quintano found Mr Fenech guilty of selling the cannabis plant but cleared Mr Psaila of all charges.