An alleged cannabis trafficker was cleared yesterday due to lack of evidence except for two witnesses who a magistrate deemed were not credible.

Edmond Debono, 35, from Rabat, was arraigned following a police operation. The court heard that, together with a friend, Paul Bugeja, they went to buy cannabis from Nicholas Gauci on June 26, 2007. The police stopped Mr Gauci, driving a white Honda Civic, and arrested Mr Debono and Mr Bugeja a short time later. A 250-gram block of cannabis was found in Mr Gauci’s car but nothing was found in Mr Debono’s car or house. Mr Bugeja was also clean.

Mr Debono testified that, after purchasing fishing nets, he had decided to buy drugs from Mr Gauci, who said he could not give him any because he had not prepared it yet. Shortly afterwards he was arrested.

Mr Debono was charged with trafficking cannabis and with aggravated possession of the drug after both Mr Gauci and Mr Bugeja said he had given the block to Mr Gauci.

Magistrate Edwina Grima said that there were a number of inconsistencies and changes in the men’s versions of events.

She also noted that Mr Gauci said he would pay Mr Debono at a later date but claimed to have met him only once before, which did not make sense.

Guilt could not be proven when the only evidence against Mr Debono was the testimony of two men who were not credible, the magistrate said.

Lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha appeared for Mr Debono.