Lm200 fine for heroin possession

A woman has been fined Lm200 for the possession of heroin over eight years ago and was cleared of trafficking in the drug.

Christine Spiteri, 42, of Gzira had been charged with trafficking in heroin, the possession of the drug and relapsing on and before September 1998.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman heard how, on September 23 that year, drug squad police searched the apartment where Ms Spiteri lived and found several syringes, blood-stained tissues and pieces of paper.

In a statement to the police, Ms Spiteri admitted to taking heroin but said she stopped when she found out she was pregnant. She also started attending a detoxification programme and, when the police searched the apartment, she had not been going there for a few days, she said.

On evaluating the evidence, the magistrate found Ms Spiteri guilty of the possession of the drug, as she had admitted to taking heroin. The magistrate however cleared her of trafficking in the drug and relapsing on lack of evidence.

Police Inspector Abraham Zammit prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio was defence counsel.