Three convicted in drug-related cases

Three men and a woman have been convicted on drug charges by Magistrate Lawrence Quintano.

In one case Stephen Abdilla, 34, of Valletta was jailed for eight months and fined Lm400 for trafficking in heroin in December 2001.

The magistrate heard that Mr Abdilla, known as Goodies, had been apprehended after the police were informed that he was dealing in drugs. One witness explained how he often bought drugs from Mr Abdilla for about Lm7 a packet.

A 21-year-old woman was jailed for a year and fined Lm400 for the possession of about 20 grammes of heroin with the intent to sell it in June 2001.

The woman, who was 16 at the time of the incident, had been arrested when she was on her way to Gozo with a man.

Both were arraigned on drug charges but her companion, of Bugibba, was acquitted as, both he and the woman, insisted he was not aware she was carrying drugs.

In a third case, 30-year-old Derin Mangion, of Fgura, was conditionally discharged for 18 months after he admitted to the possession of heroin, cocaine and ecstasy in April 2002.

John Bugeja, 37, of Qormi was jailed for a total of two years and six months and fined Lm200 for trafficking in heroin on and before April 2002 during the operative time of a two-year jail term suspended for four years.

Magistrate Quintano jailed him for six months and ordered that the two-year suspended jail term be put into effect.

Police Superintendent Neil Harrison and Police Inspector Dennis Theuma prosecuted.