A Libyan man who harboured three prison escapees and gave them drugs was yesterday jailed for four years and three months after deciding to admit to the charges before standing trial by jury.

Abdul Salam Ben Ahmed, 35, from Rabat, had let three prison escapees stay at his flat in Rabat in June, 2000.

They were Libyan Mohamed Goma M. Bakkush, who was 17 years old at the time, John Woods, 19, and Tony Zammit, who was 21 and who had already absconded once before. The men had managed to escape by jumping over a wall after they were left alone in the prison yard. They were caught at the Rabat flat three days later, on June 9, 2000.

Just two weeks before they escaped, Mr Bakkush had been apprehended at the airport in possession of a kilogram of heroin, while Mr Woods and Mr Zammit were serving time for theft.

All three were charged before the Prison Disciplinary Board and were found guilty of having destroyed or damaged prison property, escaping from prison and with inciting other persons to commit the same offences. They are facing disciplinary measures, including the loss of remission. While the three escapees were at his Rabat flat, Mr Ahmed was staying at another flat in Buġibba owned by David Gatt, where the police carried out a raid. Mr Ahmed tried to escape while Mr Gatt was arrested after he was seen throwing a jacket over a wall. It was later found to contain drugs.

Mr Gatt was jailed for a year in 2002.

In proceedings yesterday, Mr Ahmed also admitted to resisting arrest when he fled the Buġibba flat and trafficking in heroin when he gave the escapees drugs while they hid in his apartment.

Lawyer Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri appeared for Mr Ahmed.