A magistrate was shocked to hear Customs officers testify yesterday that a package suspected to contain 500 grams of an illegal substance was left in an office over the weekend because it was time for them to go home.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman was further startled when told that the package, which was tested on July 10, had been on the windowsill at the postal office since April.

The officers stationed at the Customs Department offices at Maltapost head office in Marsa, were testifying in the compilation of evidence against 23-year-old IT consultant Stefano Scicluna, of Żejtun, who stands charged with the importation of half a kilogramme of mephedrone.

The controlled substance was imported from China and was labelled titanium dioxide.

Customs inspector Carmel Camilleri testified that he had received the package at his office on July 13 after enforcement officers had reported that the substance had tested positive for mephedrone.

He said he tried calling the duty officer assigned to the Drugs Squad but did not get through. Since it was a Friday, and it was already 1.30 p.m., he decided to place it in his desk drawer and deal with the matter on Monday.

The magistrate interrupted the witness to clarify whether he actually meant that he had left a package containing what they suspected was an illegal substance in an office for a whole weekend. He replied in the affirmative, adding that his working day was over.

It was learnt later, through enforcement officer Carmel Sammut, that he had received the package on July 12 and left it on his desk overnight for another officer to take it in the morning and pass it on to enforcement officers for testing.

Defence lawyer Joe Giglio, for Mr Scicluna, argued that his client had no idea that the substance he had ordered as a paint additive had a chemical composition, which included mephedrone, a controlled substance in Malta.

The envelope was addressed to his client and in no way did his client try to hide its importation, Dr Giglio said when requesting bail.

Magistrate Hayman granted Mr Scicluna bail against a deposit of €4,000 and a personal guarantee of €20,000.

The case continues.