Jailed for 5 grammes of cannabis, resisting police

jonny yates

Nov 11th 2011, 03:32

i live in london but spend 2mouths a year in malta i agree with the sentence giving to this man in london he would get a slap on the wrist but we have dealers on ever street corner selling class A and B DRUGS well done to the jugde in this case i take my hat to him malta is a lovery country and you dont want drug dealers taken over i just wish englan would foollow suit

Jayelle Farmer

Nov 11th 2011, 00:50

Three and a half years in prison for possession of just over 5 grammes of cannabis?

Malta get a grip on life. Sounds like we need to start a tourist boycott of Malta to highlight this kind of reefer madness sentencing.

Mr Victor Borg

Nov 10th 2011, 21:35

So this poor chap is going to be fed, clothed, and given a roof over his head out of our taxes for more than three years simply because he was caught with 5grms of cannabis?

What a skewed sense of priorities.

Ender Wiggin

Nov 10th 2011, 20:41

@ Pia Attard

Having read more into the history of recent crime and punishment in Malta it does seem like the justice system has it's priorities way out of line.

Daniel Gaffarena

Nov 10th 2011, 17:33

All the crimes committed by selling cannabis are a product of prohibition, someone needs to do something about these laws, If we don't want our children to be able to buy cannabis from the streets we should legalize it, tax it and have control over who we sell to. Don't let these drug dealer decide what the appropriate age for smoking is. Remember that the war on "drugs" (cannabis is barley a drug) can never be won, the demand is too high so they need to find other solutions for cannabis at least. We can only hope that someday someone with the power to make this happen acts on it and stop putting people in jail for choosing to unwind by smoking some cannabis. These laws are ridiculous, the problem is that a big majority of the people still don't know that cannabis does not kill you, if you ask most people how many deaths a year are caused by cannabis use worldwide, most of them would say something like 2000-5000 when in fact there are no recorded deaths through history that where caused by the use of cannabis.

Bernard Sammut

Nov 10th 2011, 15:39

Three years jail for a few joints??
Incredible,A fifty euro fine would have been more just..

Ender Wiggin

Nov 10th 2011, 15:05

5.04 grams in Malta can be worth up to €100. If he has that amount in 5 separate bags then that's 5 separate sales he is planning to make, which gives the justice system good cause to believe he was intending to sell. Why he violently resisted the arrest is anybodies guess though it's a nonsensical thing to do.

This type of sentencing sends out a very clear message to potential weed sellers in Malta.

George Azzopardi

Nov 10th 2011, 14:40

Two things to note here ..

1 . Adil Hasan Mohammed, 27, was charged with being in possession of the drug in circumstances which denoted it was not for his exclusive use.

.. even if the amount was small, this does not mean that he did not have larger quantities which he could have sold! Even more, to whom did he sell? Which comes to the second point.

2. He was also charged with violently resisting arrest and with committing the crime within 100 metres of a youth club or place frequented by minors.

.. not to mention the violent resistance to arrest, the drug was targeted to minors...

I wonder if you had your sons and daughters visiting such places, would you have commented otherwise!

nicky cremona

Nov 10th 2011, 14:29

the government should legalize cannabis and open a clinic where u can get 5 grams a week with a special id.
If 5,000 people make use of this service and the government gains 10 euro of each 5 grms, he will be making a profit of 2.6 million euro yearly.
like that less smuggling in the streets, the buyer is smoking decent stuff
the government is making profit out of nothing, less tax for people

EVERYONE IS A WINNER

cafes in malta i dont agree since than malta will become a tourist attraction for drugs

vote for me next election hahahaha

A Cordina

Nov 10th 2011, 14:15

Had he, over-speeding without insurance and without license, hit two girls while they were crossing on a zebra-crossing he would have gone out of prison after some months €1,000 richer!!

Daniel Gaffarena

Nov 10th 2011, 14:04

Every time I read about an arrest for cannabis I get a bit angrier at these ancient laws that are unfortunately still around.

Shame.

Daniel Gaffarena

Nov 10th 2011, 13:57

I can't believe we still live in a country that ruins peoples lives for being in possession of cannabis, I mean come on what the hell? Alcohol is legal and something that does absolutely no harm to you is not :/ Id rather my kids smoke some weed then drink alcohol like what is considered to be "normal" for teens in this country.

Michel Bencini

Nov 10th 2011, 13:49

Oh my! How many thousands of years of taspayer subsidized jail time would this foreigner have been sentenced to in Tonio Borg's Maltese Christian democracy had he been found in possession of a few more grammes? What a skit!

Mr l Azzopardi

Nov 10th 2011, 13:43

It was noted that the drug he was carrying was of 4.2 per cent purity and enough to make 15 to 20 joints

WOW..... THANKYOU FOR SAVING MALTER !!!

S. BONAVIA

Nov 10th 2011, 13:42

shame on our courts again what a waste of taxpayer's money!!! I don't agree with his violence against the police but its shameless to send some one for 3 and a half years because he was carrying cannabis when it should be made legal ,look at our european neighbours please once in a while.

Robert Callus

Nov 10th 2011, 13:31

If this is not unjust and irrational, what is?

http://robertcallus.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/the-punishment-rarely-fits-the-crime/

Randolph Said

Nov 10th 2011, 13:13

Konna, ghadna u nibqghu nghixu f'pajjiz tal-Mickey Mouse.
Vera waqghet fil-baxx il-gudikatura Maltija. Mela bniedem kriminal ghoddu qatel zewg xbejbiet inheles u ha kumpens u miskin bicca barrani b'hames grammi haxixa ha ndahhqu pajjiz bih!
Ghax ma taqbadx u tirrezenja Karm - Il-Qorti waqqajta fl-ghar livelli li qatt kienet.

J Debrincat

Nov 10th 2011, 12:57

If you see the related stories below it should further convince you about the inconsistencies when it comes to dealing with drugs and foreigners

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111028/local/Court-jails-ex-security-guard-who-smoked-12-joints-a-day-.391140 - 250grammes - 1year – Maltese

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111018/local/Caterer-jailed-for-dealing-in-cannabis.389631 - 10 sachets - 9 months – Maltese

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110812/local/man-jailed-for-trying-to-sell-cannabis-to-students.379954 - caught dealing to students, also in possession of heroin – 1 year – Maltese

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101103/local/man-jailed-for-trafficking-drugs.334470 - cannabis and heroin – 2 years – Maltese

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100615/local/six-months-for-possession-of-drugs.312574 - cannabis, ecstasy and LSD – 6 months – Maltese

Steve Mizzi

Nov 10th 2011, 12:25

What a joke!

Unfortunately there is a human being suffering the consequences of this sad excuse for justice.

Strangely enough for once none of the Policemen present suffered a "broken" mobile phone. This is usually the norm whenever a suspect "resists" arrest.

Is there anywhere in the urban part of Malta that is more then a 100 metres away from "a youth club or place frequented by minors."?

Can anyone honestly state beyond reasonable doubt that "15 to 20 joints" are not for the accused's exclusive use?

I am certain that the European Court of Human Rights would have a field day with this judgement, especially if they compare it to similar past cases with a Maltese person as the accused.

Justice should be blind; colour blind.

JOSEPH ZAMMIT

Nov 10th 2011, 12:13

I knew it from the headlines--this person must be a foreigner.

This is becoming sickening. Jailed for three-and-a-half years and fined €2,000 for being in possession of 5.06 grammes of cannabis.

speechless!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr Austin Psaila

Nov 10th 2011, 12:12

Maybe European Governments should take a close look at this website http://www.bnet.com/blog/sports-entertainment/business-and-government-jonesing-for-a-hit-of-pot-revenues/595#ixzz1PuAtDgPV it may solve a large hunk of their money problems.....3 years for 5.06 grms!!!!...

Wayne Criggs

Nov 10th 2011, 12:11

It is a complete waste of money, time and resources running after cannabis users. It is proven that smoking cannabis and marijuana is less harmful than drinking alcohol, yet 99.9% of the population drinks.

Authorities shouldn't interfere with what a citizen does, as long as he/she is not doing anything bad to the society (ex. driving drunk or stoned).

On the other hand, hard drugs, such as heroine, should be kept banned since they are very unhealthy and can even lead to death, whilst cannabis and marijuana aren't.

A mature and developed society/country which respects its citizens should even tackle such issues, as long as we want to be considered as such.

PAUL BUSUTTIL

Nov 10th 2011, 11:59

We are becoming the European laughing stock, the bus system, our Law Courts and Mepa we just cant get it right!

a. xuereb

Nov 10th 2011, 11:56

unbelieveable.... i can understand the resisting of arrest, but surely 2yrs & 2000eur fine is a bit harsh on the poor fellow.....so we joined the e.u. to have the same rights as other member states........... so the netheralnds, spain , italy and soon the u.k. possesion with small amount is o.k., but here in malta its still islamic law...

B Attard

Nov 10th 2011, 11:52

Some fine examples of other ridiculous sentences:
Ex No.1. Domestic violence with grevious injuries. Criminal courts. Sentence given last Friday 4/11was a fine of EUR500. (This case took 3 years and 5months)
Ex No.2 Hunter caught with bird caller fined EUR700. (The hunter is arrainged only once)
Comparing these fines is a small example of what is happening everyday at our Maltese courts

Mr C Camilleri

Nov 10th 2011, 11:50

Why does it always have to be these people ??? Leave us alone. Go to smoke joints and whatever drugs involve in your country. Apart from this I totally agree that it is good to be harsh sometimes but it is silly to be harsh with foreigners only especially after the whole COMEDY of the that guy who ruined a whole family by nearly killing 2 girls. 6 months of jail and released on parole.

WHAT A SHAME !!!!!

Joseph Gatt

Nov 10th 2011, 11:45

Ma nafx lil min wegga dan, jew xi hsara ghamel billi nqabad b hames gramem ta cannabis . . . nahseb hawn fuq xiex niffukaw izjed apparti dawn il hmerijiet. MTlet snin u nofs + 2000 Euro fuq hames gramem haxixa. Tad dahq wisq ikolli nghid.

J Debrincat

Nov 10th 2011, 11:22

As soon as I saw the headline I knew it must be a foreigner to get a sentence like this!! 5 grammes is just over an 8th of an ounce so if it was not "for his exclusive use" then he was not exactly going to be the next Escobar. I recognise the fact that there where some aggrevating factors but they really pulled out the stops with the 100 m from a youth club charge...

Mr Daniel Jones

Nov 10th 2011, 11:15

And yet, someone who almost kills 2 little girls and drives off gets a lower sentence and out early on good behaviour after setting fire to his cell and attempting to escape. Then proves what sort of person he is by showing a complete and utter disregard for his sentence by driving whilst banned only days after his release.

Possession of cannabis is more serious than almost killing 2 girls. The justice system reform can't come soon enough.