A 28-year-old Somali man was jailed for nine months and fined €700 for trying to give ‘cannabis’ to Danish tourists, even though the substance was not actually illegal.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras ruled that the fact that the substance was not actually cannabis was irrelevant.

What mattered was that the accused – Noor Ali Muse – pitched it as “weed” to the group of five young men.

The magistrate heard that, on October 11, police officers were informed that drugs were being trafficked at a public garden in Gżira.

When the police went there they saw the young tourists speaking to the accused. The Danes told the police Mr Muse offered them “weed”.

All those present were searched but no drugs were found on them, though a small piece of cling film was found on a nearby tree. Inside was a substance that seemed to be cannabis.

Forensic expert Godwin Scerri examined the substance and concluded it was not cannabis nor any other illegal substance.

Mr Muse denied ever offering “weed” to the tourists and insisted he barely spoke English.

However, police officers said he had spoken to them in English.

After hearing the evidence, the magistrate concluded that the version of the young Danes was more credible and consistent.

She found Mr Muse guilty of trafficking in cannabis in an area frequented by young people.