Jailed for 0.020g of cannabis

A man was jailed for six months and fined almost €500 for being in possession of four cannabis saplings.

The plants were found at the house of Eugenio Camenzuli, 50, during a police search just under eight years ago, on April 17, 2001.

Pharmacist and court-appointed expert Mario Mifsud said the drugs found in the leaves of the plants weighed up to 0.020 grams.

According to a police officer who testified, Mr Camenzuli had turned one of the pots upside down after he realised that the police were on to him but later confessed.

Probation officer Carmen Nygaard said Mr Camenzuli had always had a full-time job, was respected and trusted at his work place and had successfully completed a drug rehabilitation programme.

In the first hearing five years later, on June 12, 2006, Mr Camenzuli pleaded guilty to cultivating the plants but it took another two years for him to be sentenced.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano jailed him for six months and fined him €466.

Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara prosecuted.