A woman has been jailed for nine months and fined €2,000 after she was convicted of attempting to smuggle heroin into jail for her husband, notorious criminal Alfred Bugeja, better known as Il-Porporina.

Helen Bugeja, 47, from Senglea, was found guilty of hiding heroin in a pair of shoes delivered to Mr Bugeja by his brother on June 28, 2012.

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia heard Ms Bugeja denying hiding the drugs in the shoes she gave to her brother-in-law before he went to the Corradino Correctional Facility to visit his brother.

However, the court discarded her version of events, saying the court was convinced Ms Bugeja was aware the shoes had heroin hidden inside them.

Heroin in shoes delivered to Corradino Correctional Facility

The court heard how Mr Bugeja had told his wife to give his brother a pair of shoes so he could take them to jail. The items he took, including the shoes and PlayStation games, were placed in a holding area to be inspected.

At first nothing irregular was found but further investigations revealed 2.8 grams of heroin, enough for approximately 14 doses. The drugs were hidden in two sachets.

When Ms Bugeja was arrested, Drug Squad police found no drugs but two pieces of foil that, when analysed, were found to have traces of heroin. Magistrate Farrugia said Ms Bugeja’s criminal record had seven convictions, such as prostitution and simple possession of various drugs, including heroin and cannabis.

Despite this, she was cleared of relapsing as the prosecution failed to exhibit a copy of court judgments related to her convictions.

In view of the seriousness of the crime, especially since there was an attempt to smuggle heroin into jail, the magistrate jailed Ms Bugeja for nine months and fined her €2,000.

Police inspector Johann Fenech prosecuted.