Conditional discharge

A 24-year-old man was yesterday conditionally discharged for 16 months after he was found guilty of possessing cocaine, resisting the police and breaching public peace.

Taking the witness stand, Police Sergeant Carlos Axisa said that at a party on June 6, 2004, Mario Scerri was holding two bottles of beer while walking. When he asked Mr Scerri to place the bottles on a table and then put his hands on the table, in order to search him, Mr Scerri put his hands beneath the table.

The officer said he had seen a small transparent packet fall to the ground. Mr Scerri was asked to go to the caravan where the police were conducting strip searches but he refused and started swearing and cursing the police.

Police Inspector Nexren Grixti said he had seen Mr Scerri drunk, behaving in a disorderly manner and causing trouble with PS Axisa.

Mr Scerri testified that he had seen PS Axisa pick up a white bag but he denied it was his.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano found Mr Scerri guilty of possessing drugs, resisting the police and breaching public peace.

Taking into consideration the fact that Mr Scerri had no criminal offences on his police record, the court handed down a conditional discharge. Police Inspector Pierre Grech prosecuted.