Pleads guilt to heroin pushing

A 32-year-old man was yesterday jailed for 27 months and fined €2,800 after he admitted to trafficking and possessing heroin in circumstances denoting it was not for his personal use.

Tony Armando Zahra from Mosta pleaded guilty to trafficking in and possessing heroin in May. He also admitted to relapsing.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano took into consideration the fact that Mr Zahra had admitted to the charges at an early stage of the proceedings, the fact that he is a heavy drug user, that he had cooperated fully with the police and that he is attending a drug rehabilitation programme. The court also took into consideration Mr Zahra's criminal record and the fact that he was found in possession of four grammes of the drug.

The court noted that the crime was committed when Mr Zahra still had a pending appeal on another drug conviction, which was eventually decided on June 12.

Police Inspector Jesmond Borg prosecuted.