Soldier's testimony clinches drug conviction

A court yesterday fined a man €1,400 for drug possession after a soldier said he saw the accused throwing a bag of ecstasy pills out of a car window on his way to a party in Ħal Far.

Although the man, Kenneth Camilleri, denied the charge, the court believed the testimony of Armed Forces of Malta Gunner Christopher Borg, who was stationed ahead of a road block on the lookout for precisely this sort of evasive action.

Mr Borg told the court he was placed 15 metres in front of the road block in case anyone should throw anything out of a car.

In fact, on the night in question, in March 2002, he saw Mr Camilleri half way out of the passenger window disposing of a bag which turned out to contain eight ecstasy pills. Mr Borg was standing just two metres away.

Mr Camilleri only admitted to having smoked cannabis and taken ecstasy about a year ago. But Magistrate Lawrence Quintano said that he believed the version of Mr Borg and found Mr Camilleri guilty of possessing the drugs. He slapped him with a fine of €1,400.

Police Superintendent Neil Harrison prosecuted.