Dutchman received drugs in prison

A Dutchman serving time for the importation of ecstasy pills has been jailed for nine more months and fined €600 for possessing cocaine that was hidden in a parcel of toiletries delivered to him in jail.

Perry Ingomar Toornstra, 32, was charged with the possession of cocaine with the intent to sell and with relapsing in December 2004.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano heard how on December 6, 2004, a parcel - containing toothpaste, shaving cream, perfume, marsh mallows and other items - arrived at the Corradino Correctional Facility addressed to Mr Toornstra.

He told police constable Anthony Cutajar that the packet was from his mother or brother. As the constable inspected the package, he noticed that a tube of Palmolive cream was not sealed properly and, when he squeezed it, three sachets fell out.

On seeing this, Mr Toornstra stood up, grabbed the sachets and tried to swallow them but was stopped by the constable.

In a statement to the police, Mr Toornstra said he had been expecting the package and the cocaine from a friend. He insisted that the cocaine was for his personal use, adding that in Holland he used to smoke a lot of it.

The amount he received, which was just over 30 grammes, would last him about a week.

On evaluating the evidence, Magistrate Quintano found Mr Toornstra guilty of the simple possession of the drug but cleared him of possession with intent.

He also cleared him of relapsing because the prosecution had failed to exhibit the necessary supporting judgments as evidence.

The magistrate also noted the serious nature of the crime in which drugs were going to be introduced into the prison "where every effort is being made to control the inflow of drugs".

The judgment comes a day after Mr Toornstra was arraigned for violently resisting four prison warders soon after an escape attempt on August 9. The warders have been charged with beating him up.

Police Inspector Nezren Grixti prosecuted.

Lawyer Anġlu Farrugia appeared for the accused.