The Court of Criminal Appeal in a definitive judgement this morning acquitted a man who had been accused of drug trafficking but who successfully argued that he was not assisted by a lawyer during interrogation.

Alvin Privitera was arraigned in 2007 and accused of drug trafficking. The police had said that he had admitted to the charges during the police interrogation.

Mr Privitera, who faced a mandatory jail term of up to 10 years if convicted, had pleaded that he was not assisted by a lawyer during interrogation. The Magistrate made a reference to the First Hall of the Civil Court which had found a breach of the human rights of the accused.

The Attorney General appealed appealed before the Constitutional Court, which confirmed the findings of the court and referred the case back to the Magistrates' Court.

The Magistrates' Court then acquitted Mr Privitera after finding that no evidence had been presented other than the statement allegedly given by the accused to the Police.

The Attorney General appealed once more but the Court of Criminal Appeal in its judgement today threw out the case and acquitted Mr Privitera.

Lawyer Franco Debono was counsel to Mr Privitera.