Migrant jailed for dealing in cannabis

A Sudanese migrant was jailed for six months for trafficking in cannabis in Paceville last October after two men testified that they bought drugs from him.

Salem Hassan Suleiman, a 33-year-old from Darfur, was arraigned on December 2 claiming he was asleep at the Marsa open centre when the incident occurred. His arrest came after another drug user, Khalifa Iswesi K. Shawish, took an affidavit saying he had bought drugs from Mr Suleiman.

Mr Shawish, who was here on holiday, has been jailed for nine months after he pointed a Spanish holidaymaker in the direction of Mr Suleiman to show him where to buy drugs.

The court heard that Mr Shawish first introduced Spaniard Aleo Aguila de Santobal to another man, Mohammed Suleiman Abubaker, near Burger King in Paceville.

Mr Abubaker then led Mr de Santobal into an alley situated near the bus stop opposite the Pender Place Gardens development and sold him cannabis.

Mr Abubaker told the police he had received the drugs from Mr Suleiman and knew him well as they lived in the same room at the open centre.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano said he found Mr Abubaker's testimony to be more credible than the version given by Mr Suleiman.

He jailed him for six months and fined him €467 Police Inspector Dennis Theuma prosecuted.