A convicted drug trafficker yesterday told a court he had been imprisoned for far longer than he deserved because he had refused to pay a sitting judge cash to secure a lower term.

Darren Desira, who at the time was awaiting trial for drug trafficking, said he had been told that a shorter term could be attained if he made a payment to the late judge Ray Pace.

But he preferred to rely on his lawyers who were plea bargaining on his behalf.

Once he refused to comply, he was told the term would be significantly harsher as a result.

The men who approached him – Raymond Caruana, a 51-year-old truck driver from Żebbuġ, and Sandro Psaila, a 40-year-old restaurateur from Valletta – stand charged with bribing the late judge.

Dr Pace had also been charged in connection with the case but he was found dead at home on May 5, with the police ruling out foul play.

Mr Desira was jailed for 18 years after pleading guilty to drug trafficking but said Mr Caruana and Mr Psaila knew what the jail term would be well in advance.

Testifying in court yesterday, Mr Desira said that in November 2011 he received a phone call from Mr Caruana. He went to meet him and found Mr Caruana covered in blood, saying he had been beaten up and robbed.

From that point on, Mr Caruana somehow believed that he, Mr Desira, knew who had robbed him, Mr Desira said.

Mr Psaila told him he knew a judge and referred to this person as being next in line to the Chief Justice. The judge later turned out to be Ray Pace.

Mr Psaila asked him for cash to secure a lower jail term through Dr Pace, telling him that the judge presiding over his case was Lawrence Quintano.

Asked what jail term Mr Psaila had promised him, Mr Desira said it was in the region of five years.

In a previous sitting, Mr Justice Quintano categorically denied ever having been influenced by Dr Pace to hand down an 18-year sentence to Mr Desira.

Mr Desira said Mr Psaila also knew the date his hearing had been appointed, even though he had not said anything to anyone about it.

Before sentencing, Mr Caruana and Mr Psaila called and asked him to go to Mr Psaila’s restaurant, a steak house in Buġibba, to meet Dr Pace.

Mr Desira said he came up with an excuse not to go because he had full faith in his lawyers, Giannella de Marco, Steve Tonna Lowell and Joe Giglio, who were plea bargaining with the Attorney General at the time.

They were seeking a 10 to 12 year prison term but lawyer Aaron Bugeja, from the AG’s office (who has since become a magistrate) wanted 15 years.

They failed to reach agreement and decided to file an admission and let the judge decide.

Mr Desira said that three weeks before being sentenced, Mr Caruana started sending messages through various people that he (Mr Desira) was going to be jailed for 18 years.

During the hearing in which he made his admission, he turned to an escorting police officer and told him that he would get 18 years.

He said that the sitting was unusual because Mr Justice Quintano seemed agitated and also came out late to hand down judgment.

The case continues.