Arraigned after overdose death

A man suspected of selling heroin to a young man who died of an overdose was yesterday charged with involuntary homicide.

Kevin Borg, 30, pleaded not guilty to the involuntary homicide of 22-year-old Fabio Maugeri who was found dead in his home at St Paul's Bay on January 20.

Mr Borg, from Msida, also pleaded not guilty to charges of heroin and cocaine trafficking and of possessing heroin and ecstasy not for his own personal use. He was also charged with cocaine and cannabis possession and relapsing.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella refused to grant him bail and remanded him in custody.

Mr Maugeri's body had been found by his brother and the police immediately suspected a heroin overdose after finding drug-related material, including syringes, next to him.

Mr Borg was arrested on Friday together with another five people. He is suspected of selling the drugs to Mr Maugeri and the other five are expected to be charged with buying the drugs from him.

When Mr Borg's apartment was searched, the police allegedly found about seven grammes of heroin, a small amount of cannabis and pills thought to be ecstasy, two weighing scales and other material connected to the trafficking and abuse of drugs, police sources said.