A woman sentenced to 17 years for importing 3.5 kilograms of heroin had the term reduced to 12 years after judges noted she had helped secure the arrest and prosecution of two suspects.

Anna Spiteri, 50, from Marsa, had also been fined €37,000, which was cut to €23,000 after the police proceeded against two cousins alleged to be involved in importing the drugs from Tunisia on September 17, 2008. During her trial, Ms Spiteri denied having had anything to do with the drugs.

Jurors heard she had been stopped by Customs officers who found two laptops containing heroin inside her suitcase.

She had just arrived on a flight from Tunis and claimed her former boyfriend, Nagi Al Maraash, had packed her bag and given it to her at the airport in Tunisia, saying it contained gifts for his brother, Mohammed Ahmed, and their cousin, Isaam Abdulmawla Zbeda.

Ms Spiteri had told the police she had asked Customs to x-ray the bag because it was very heavy and she did not quite trust Mr Maraash. However, Customs officers denied this.

In an appeal, signed by her lawyer, Joe Brincat, Ms Spiteri said there were a number of irregularities throughout the trial, the punishment was excessive and the presiding judge’s address contained inconsistencies.

Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri, Mr Justice David Scicluna and Mr Justice Joseph Zammit Mckeon noted that Ms Spiteri had helped secure the arrest and prosecution of Mr Maraash and Mr Zbeda. They therefore decided to reduce punishment by one grade.