A magistrate yesterday warned a heroin addict with a 13-year-old habit that he should focus on being a good parent.
Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit rapped 32-year-old Jonathan Bonello after he pleaded not guilty to heroin trafficking and possession with intent to sell.
The police raided his Attardresidence on Boxing Day and seized 50 grams of the drug.
“Why are you finding it difficult to stop? Drugs don’t only destroy you but will destroy your family,” she told him as relatives sobbed quietly in the courtroom.
Mr Bonello admitted he had had an addiction problem since he was 19 and had even completed a rehabilitation programme but started taking heroin soon after.
“It’s like I’m in a hole. But I’m fed up of this life… I want to start a programme,” he said.
The magistrate urged him to change his ways, pointing out that he had to be there for his child. “You have to look ahead because your child needs you, so do something about it,” she said.
He admitted to simple possession of heroin but pleaded not guilty to trafficking. He also pleaded not guilty to relapsing.
Mr Bonello was arrested together with another two people – a 36-year-old woman and 36-year-old man from Naxxar – after a police surveillance operation spread over a number of days, according to a police statement.
A search revealed 50 grams of heroin, sachets filled with the drug and other related items. The arrests were made after the 36-year-old man was seen buying heroin from Mr Bonello and the woman, the police said earlier this week.
Inspector Herman Mula, prosecuting, objected to a request for bail, saying Mr Bonello had been given several chances and the amount of heroin seized indicated that it was not for his personal use.
“His attitude isn’t positive. He is unemployed and I don’t think he is trustworthy because he will continue doing the same thing once he is out,” Mr Mula said.
Magistrate Stafrace Zammit decided, however, to give the accused another chance and granted him bail, imposing a number of strict conditions including completing an in-house drug rehabilitation programme.
She warned him that, until he started the programme, he had to be under his parents’ full supervision and move back in with them to make sure he did not go back to his old ways.
Breaching any of the conditions will lead to his re-arrest. He would also forfeit the €1,000 deposit and the €20,000 personal guarantee, she said.
Lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared for Mr Bonello.