Jailed for six years, fined €15,000 over cannabis conspiracy

A 25-year-old man was yesterday jailed for six years and fined €15,000 (Lm6437.76) after he was found guilty of conspiring to deal in cannabis.

He was acquitted of being in possession of the drug in 2004.

After four hours of deliberation, jurors found Clayton Galea from Ħamrun guilty by seven votes to two of conspiring to deal in cannabis and by seven votes to two not guilty of possession of the drug.

On Tuesday, the court heard how two police officers on their way to investigate a case involving a stolen van stopped to talk to two suspicious-looking men and noticed one of them throw a plastic bag into a field.

Testifying before Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, Police Sergeant Eric Mangion and Constable Darrel Decelis explained how, on their way to check about a stolen vehicle near the Bulebel industrial estate, they drove past two men who looked as though they were up to something. On seeing the officers, one of the men, Nazzareno Muscat, threw a white plastic bag into a field.

Mr Muscat, 39, of Żejtun, filed a guilty plea to the charges brought against Mr Galea and, consequently, his case was separated from Mr Galea's. Mr Muscat was jailed for 10 years and six months and fined €10,000 (Lm4291.84).

Testifying in Mr Galea's case, Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara explained that he had taken over the investigations into the case after Mr Muscat and Mr Galea were arrested. He ordered a search in the residences of the accused.

At Mr Galea's house, the police found several items related to the consumption of cannabis such as pipes, cigarette paper, cigarette roaches and pistol-shaped lighters.

In a statement to the police, Mr Galea said he had met Mr Muscat because he had taken his car to him for repairs. According to the bill of indictment, in the beginning of 2004, Mr Galea got to know Mr Muscat who was involved in drug dealing. In July, the two met at the Bulebel industrial estate and Mr Muscat tried to persuade Mr Galea to join his drug-dealing business. Initially Mr Galea refused but he was eventually taken over by the financial aspect and agreed to join Mr Muscat.

The two agreed that Mr Muscat was to allow the use of his Żejtun apartment to store the drugs and Mr Galea would make the contacts to sell it. They would then split the profit, the prosecution told the court. However, the police foiled their plans and, on July 12, 2004, officers searched Mr Muscat's Żejtun apartment from where they seized five bars of cannabis resin weighing about one kilo.

Before handing down judgment, Mr Justice Galea Debono took into consideration Mr Galea's criminal record and the fact that he had not been found with any drugs in his possession.

Lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran and Emmanuel Mallia appeared for Mr Galea.