Five arraigned after record cannabis haul

Two Serbs, a British couple and a Maltese man were yesterday charged in connection with the record haul of almost half a ton of cannabis found on Victory Day.

The Maltese man, 28-year-old gardener Kevin Sammut, stands charged with conspiring to traffic in 430 kilogrammes of cannabis.

The Serbs, Jovica Kolakovic, 52, and Tomas Mikalauskas, 28, both unemployed, stand charged with conspiring to traffic and being in possession of 15 kilogrammes of cannabis plants.

Sheri Anne Steedman, 38, who declared in court she was a charity worker, and her boyfriend Jason Lee Holland, 39, a builder, were charged with possessing and dealing in less than a kilogramme of cannabis.

The police said they found about 446 kilogrammes, almost three times the total amount seized over the past eight years. The haul has an estimated street value of €1.5 million.

Legal aid lawyer Anthony Cutajar requested bail for Ms Steedman and Mr Holland on grounds they have a permanent address at an expensive apartment in Madliena.

But Police Inspector Dennis Theuma told the court both of them had absolutely no ties with Malta, which meant they could easily just pack up and go.

No request for bail was made by Dr Cutajar on behalf of the Serbs.

After taking into consideration the seriousness of the charges vis-a-vis all of the accused, Magistrate Doreen Clarke remanded them in custody.

Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara prosecuted in Mr Sammut's case and Police Inspector Pierre Grech prosecuted in the case of Mr Kolakovic and Mr Mikalauskas.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared for Mr Sammut.