Maltese woman flees justice, again

p.grima

Sep 25th 2009, 01:32

How many more times will she be granted bail if she will be arrested again?

Reminds me of the film "Catch me if you can"

I guess that the reason that she keeps escaping is because she can. I would do the same if I ever was in her shoes (God forbid).

P.Zammit

Sep 24th 2009, 19:46

Paul Smith needs to sober up and talk sense.

Dr. Etienne A. Calleja

Sep 24th 2009, 19:17

@Everybody

Whilst the actions of any drug trafficker or dealer are reprehenisble and cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be condoned, let us please, in the interests of justice, not forget the principle of innocence until otherwise shown to the satisfaction of a Court of law. We have to act justly especially with those who have chosen to act otherwise - if this is the case with this individual, for she has yet to answer for her actions.

Having said that however, most of those who attempted to commit the same type of offence, were/are foreigners, who may not be knowledgable of the local laws. This feeblest of excuses [everyone is presumed to know the law] however, may certainly not be availed of by this person!

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 24th 2009, 18:33

I totally agree with Adrian Borg Cardona and G. Curmi.

G. Curmi

Sep 24th 2009, 08:39

While Mr. Smith is entitled to express his opinions about the severity of Ms. Bugeja's crime and the potential consequences, others are equally entitled to their opinions to the contrary. Ecstasy is a dangerous and illegal drug with far reaching hazards for those that use it.

It appears clear that Ms. Bugeja was importing a "massive amount of pills" hidden in a teddy bear not for personal use but for trafficking and sale to others. The two episodes of her flight from justice bear silent witness against her guilt. When the authorities eventually catch up with Ms. Bugeja, she should bear the full judicial impact of her reprehensible actions, if for nothing else, to serve as a deterrent for others who might be equally inclined to engage in such illegal activity.

Kevin Dirke

Sep 24th 2009, 00:13

@ Paul Smith.

Where do you get your facts from? I work with Drug Addicts in Oxford every day including individuals left with major Mental Health issues due to Ecstasy (MDMA) use. I can assure you that Ecstasy is still a Class A drug in the Uk and will remain so in the future. It is true that the drugs advisory board suggested reclassification but this was rejected. I do agree that sentences especially when drugs are involved are quite harsh in Malta but that is how it is. This Woman should not have tried to import 5000 Pills if she didn't fancy the Jail term. Also in the Uk if you were caught bringing in 5000 pills at Heathrow or any other airport i can assure you that you would get longer then 18 months as you state. In actual fact the average sentence for around 100 pills is 2 to 3 years!

Ronnie Gauci

Sep 24th 2009, 00:00

@ Paul Smith

We can always put 20 of them in one cell. I think they'd fit.

Adrian Borg Cardona

Sep 23rd 2009, 16:37

Soory, Mr. Smith, but I see nothing wrong in this woman spending the best part of her natural life in prison. She does not care about other people's lives, why should we? In any case, she was happy to truin young people for her own personal gain. She should be shown no mercy. Call me a taliban if you like, but I cannot see reason when drug pushers happily ruin young people so they can have a comfy lifestyle.

Paul Smith

Sep 23rd 2009, 15:43

Sorry H Micallef
i am wrong - it was downgraded to class B from class A

My whole point was not about this nasty little drug but about the kind of sentence this women would get in Malta compared to all other EU states - she would have spent no longer than 18 months in prison - whilst in malta she will spend the best part of her natural life in prison - wrong and draconian - simples!

Paul Smith

Sep 23rd 2009, 15:37

H Micallef
It was reveiwed and down graded following recomendations by the drug advisory board

On some UK.GOV websites they still have cannabis as a class C drug whilst it has been upgraded to class B

Paul Smith

Sep 23rd 2009, 15:27

You say:
I prefer a draconian justice system to your green-faced one. Your professionals cannot even decide on classification of marijuana - one time it's Class C, then it's Class B, then it's C again.

here you go - wrong again:
The politicians decided to re-classify against the advise of the drug advisory board - it's all about votes! If Gordon Brown knew that legalizing cannabis would win him the next election he would - problem is UK much like Malta has a large % of sheeple whom preach about drugs whilst downing a brandy or whisky - i call that hypocracy

H Micallef

Sep 23rd 2009, 15:26

Mr. Smith, ecstacy is a class A drug in the United Kingdom and to check use the following link.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drugs-law/Class-a-b-c/

Paul Smith

Sep 23rd 2009, 15:22

A Magri

100% incorrect

Have you read some of the hundreds of letters i have written and that have been published on your energy well being, food security, joining the EU prior to joining? Or my comments on the blog yesterday about tourism in Gozo? Clearly not!

Besides my Wife is Maltese and my children are English Maltese.

A.Magri

Sep 23rd 2009, 15:14

Paul Smith
Your only purpose seems to poke fun at us Maltese. Being a Brit I would think twice about that. You should know, unless you've been living under a rock for the past 20 years, that your justice system lets murderers walk scot-free, paedophiles work in schools, and yobs beat up grandmas on their way to the grocery store.

I prefer a draconian justice system to your green-faced one. Your professionals cannot even decide on classification of marijuana - one time it's Class C, then it's Class B, then it's C again.

Paul Smith

Sep 23rd 2009, 14:57

A.Magri

let me know of one occasion when someone smoked a cannabis joint and lost there life? Nobody ever did. The amount of deaths directly attributed to Ectasy use is less than those attributed to eating peanuts and having a reaction or less than that from taking penacillin, in the UK we have a drug advisory board made up of scientists and Doctors - they make recomendations to the government on how a drug should be classified - yes professionals - you know like the guys whom build your Roads!

Like i said - i am not condoning any type of drug use - but clearly this women would be given a disproportionate sentence in Malta along the lines of 25 years or so - simply ludicrous and shows how draconian your justice system is - FACT!

A.Magri

Sep 23rd 2009, 14:17

@Paul Smith
Let me know of one occasion where a teenager took a shot of any alcoholic drink and lost his/her life. Our justice system is not perfect but a step ahead of the British 'laissez-faire', pay later attitude.

Anthony Roberts

Sep 23rd 2009, 14:15

I was born in London and have a Maltese passport, that makes me a Maltese citizen, not Maltese.

Janice Falkirk

Sep 23rd 2009, 14:04

@Marianne.Galea Xuereb::::: sorry to differ but if this lady is in a possession of a Maltese passport although she was born in the UK, then she is Maltese and should be deported back to her own country regardless of one's birth place., what you are saying is that if i were IE., born in Zulu land of British citizens parents, then i am a Zulu right. No Way. Sorry she is still a foreigner in the eyes of the British law but an eu citizen and thats the only advantage to her status., besides she imported the substance into Malta and not into the UK. so she hasen't done yopu guys any favours

Paul Smith

Sep 23rd 2009, 13:55

I'm Afraid your wrong Peter Korsten

Alcohol is ranked third after heroine and cocaine as a dangerous drug in that exact order. MDMA comes way down the rankings and is not even in the top ten - hence why it is a class C drug under the UK - misuse of Drugs Act. I dont condone the use of this drug. I see no benefits in Alcohol and i can tell you that it is a very destructive drug that kills millions world wide and damages families and that it is also addictive. Alcohol is not only abused by youngsters in the UK - it is also abused by youngsters in Malta and Adults alike - i would take a guess that 90% of domestic violence in the UK and Malta is related to Alcohol.

Its does not change the facts that the Laws in Malta are draconian and that Malta is a semi theocracy

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 23rd 2009, 13:49

@J.S.Clegg

“Ms Bugeja was born in London but lived in Qormi” so she should be deported to the country where she was born. “The Metropolitan Police have confirmed she was granted bail again in November 2008 but fled for the second time.” Why was she granted bail in UK? Surely the authorities there were aware that she had escaped in 2006-2007 after she was granted bail in Malta.


Is it not bad enough that Malta is littered with home grown criminals that we cannot deport AND illegal immigrants – several of whom are flying from countries where they committed serious crimes – that we cannot deport because of certain EU regulations and/or some feeble humanitarian excuse?

Joe Galea

Sep 23rd 2009, 13:36

Her passport should be revoked.

J.S.Clegg

Sep 23rd 2009, 13:22

Deport her and send her back to her own country of Malta. We have too many foreigners here from countries the south part of europe amongts other eastern block that tend to take Britain for a soft touch.

Paul Smith

Sep 23rd 2009, 13:22

Ronnie Gauci

If there were no bail system then the British Government would have to build a new prison every couple of weeks and this alone would bankrupt the country. Secondly - even in Malta you would have to ring fence Gozo and use it as a prison.

Peter Korsten

Sep 23rd 2009, 13:08

@Paul Smith

The difference between alcohol and ecstasy is that the former is not a problem when used responsibly, and can even have some benefits. The same is not the case for ecstasy. The Dutch, who have a fairly liberal and pragmatic approach to drugs classify it as a hard drug because of its damaging effects. Apart from the risk of organ failure, there are the depressions after use. And whilst there is indeed a big problem with alcohol abuse by youngsters (notably in the UK), in relative terms, it's still less damaging than MDMA, heroine, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.

C Cassar

Sep 23rd 2009, 12:55

I fully agree with Mr Smith

It is indeed a pity that in this country you get a suspended sentence for abusing minors, attempted murder, VAT fraud etc, whereas if you are caught smoking marijuana (to mention just one), you will spend at least 12 years in jail.

This woman obviously had the intention to sell, which makes it more serious, however the judicial system indeed does merit rethinking.

Ronnie Gauci

Sep 23rd 2009, 12:55

That's why I'm against the bail system plus that it gives criminals an extra benefit they do not deserve.

Paul Smith

Sep 23rd 2009, 12:40

Paul Calleja-Gera

I simply dont understand your comments, not that i condone the use of ecstacy at all - but your country is covered in drug dens called Bars that sell the most lethal drug of all - Alcohol which is probably responsible for the deaths of thousands of Maltese over the last few decades. Everytime i read about a road death in Malta 9 times out of 10 it is an Alcohol related accident that led to death. I think that proportionally drug addiction in Malta per capita is probably higher or on par with the UK.

A.Magri

The UK justice system did not see this crime in the same light as your justice system - hence why she was bailed. It's only your draconian justice system and the religious talaban that back it that thinks this women is some kind of danger to wider society - It's time for you to get out and see the world and educate yourself a little better - me thinks!

A.Magri

Sep 23rd 2009, 12:13

@P.Smith
Apparently the British justice system is so much better by granting this woman bail for the second time.....

Paul Calleja-Gera

Sep 23rd 2009, 12:03

Draconian? Perhaps - but do you know how many of your youngsters over there end up with a 'life sentence' on drugs? I have absolutely no pity for anyone, man or woman, who deals with drugs. They are the ruin of our (and your) society. I hope she is caught and punished.

Paul Smith

Sep 23rd 2009, 11:53

What this women did was wrong - immoral and illegal - however that said - i do not blame her for running. The drug Ecstasy is a class C drug in the United Kingdom and if you are found with a small quantity of it - it will be taken from you and destroyed - you will not have to attend court, you will not be fined and you most certainly will not have to endure a prison sentence or get a criminal record over it. On the other hand if you were caught with 5,000 pills you would have to attend court and there is a good chance you could end up getting an 18 month prison sentence of which you may end up serving 9 months in prison.

No doubt in Malta she will get 25 years in prison because the justice system in Malta is draconian.