Seven-year prison term for drug smuggler who escaped

A Libyan man was yesterday jailed for seven years and fined €23,000 after he admitted to importing and trafficking in 800 grams of heroin worth about €56,000, which were hidden in a false bottom of his suitcase.

Emad Ibrahim M. Wadi, 24, was meant to stand trial by jury but changed his mind at the 11th hour yesterday morning while the potential jurors waited outside the court room.

He had arrived at the airport in June 2007 with another man, Haithem Swissi, 27, who was jailed last week for eight years and fined €23,000 after he admitted his involvement.

In the bill of indictment the Attorney General said that Mr Swissi had bought plane tickets in Libya on June 26, 2007 and flew to Malta that same day. On his arrival, he was searched by Customs officers who found the drugs.

Mr Wadi escaped from the airport but was caught later that evening back at the airport while trying to find a flight back to Libya.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Michael Mallia said that he took into consideration the fact that Mr Wadi had one less charge than Mr Swissi and had also filed an admission at the same stage of the trial.