Friday, 15th August 2008 - 12:36CET

Missing woman found - awaiting trial for importation of 5,000 Ecstasy pills

Rita Bugeja

A woman reported missing last November was found and arrested in the UK yesterday, the police said.

Procedures have been initiated for the woman, 51-year-old Rita Bugeja, to be returned to Malta.

Ms Bugeja, a British citizen, had been reported missing by her Maltese family. She went missing while on bail awaiting trial for the alleged importation of close to 5,000 ecstasy pills. The pills were found on May 13 two years ago in a joint operation at the airport between the police and Customs.

The police had suspected that Ms Bugeja had escaped from Malta and a warrant for her arrest was issued by the courts. This was followed by an international arrest warrant issued through Interpol.

Investigations by the British police with the assistance of the Attorney General’s office led to Ms Bugeja’s arrest yesterday.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Monday, November 23, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Jesmond Navarro (on 17/8/08)

Missing while on bail? On bail for importing 5,000 pills? No comment.... Such things only happen in Malta!

Conrad Busuttil (on 17/8/08)

Sounds familiar to the Azzabi case back in the 1990's.

Does anyone remember? That was even worse for he was in custody just like the Dutch prisoner of last week's escape attempt.

dbugjea (on 16/8/08)

EVERY DAY NEWS criminals out bail.

Magistrates sends criminals to jail suspended for four years.

What kind of law do we have ?

Denis Catania (on 15/8/08)

First, I don't know this lady. Bail is given out, with the expectation of her appearance in court. We as a society, do at times give NO BAIL to certain defendants but what happens when a jury finds them NOT GUILTY, do we give them any compensation. We don't, so before we jump on the justice system. Let's look at all the defendants that do show up to court. Most do.Although this sounds like a clear cut case. She is innocent till proven guilty.Hopefully if she is found guilty, she won't get a slap on the wrist.
@MrBugeja: Maybe she didn't have any travel restriction, and still had her passport. Very rarely the long arm of the law doesn't get you, in cases like this.

Joseph Borg (on 15/8/08)

My name is very common in Malta but my fathers name is the most uncommon. So how come that criminals and sought after personnel happen to get out of the island, while I am almost always stopped before I leave the island and I used to be stoped on entering as well.
Maybe I am a very prominent person. Ha Ha.

Matthew Grima (on 15/8/08)

Some things are hard to believe! We are in the year 2008 and nothing has changed within the legal system. How can a person who had allegedly imported 5,000 ecstasy pills be granted bail in the first place? BOQ!!!!!

John Azzopardi (on 15/8/08)

The escape does not inspire too much confidence in passport control agencies. Imagine how much easier it would be for a professional criminal or terrorist to abscond.

dbugeja (on 15/8/08)

How did she escape?