A woman charged with trafficking heroin into prison was caught on CCTV handing drugs to her inmate boyfriend in front of their three children, a court heard yesterday.
Romina Cachia, 33, of Safi had five grams of heroin wrapped in a sachet, hidden in her genitals when she visited 35-year-old Silvano Cilia, of Għaxaq, who is serving time for drug trafficking, Police Inspector Jesmond Borg, prosecuting, said yesterday.
Ms Cachia visited prison on Sunday together with the couple’s three children aged nine, 12 and 14. She went through the security checks, where visitors are frisked, but nothing was found. However, in the visitors’ area, warders noticed the woman on monitors take the drugs out of her underwear and handing them to her partner, the prosecuting officer said. The warders searched Mr Cilia and found the drugs.
The couple were charged with possession of heroin in circumstances denoting it was not for their exclusive use and Ms Cachia with taking the drug into prison. They were also charged with relapsing.
While under arrest, the couple communicated continuously despite being told not to speak to each other and Mr Cilia was overheard threatening her, insisting she was not to speak to the police, the witness said.
The prosecution objected to her release on grounds she could not be trusted. However, defence lawyer Marion Camilleri pointed out her client had only once been given a three-year probation. In addition, she had three children to look after.
Magistrate Jacqueline Pado-vani granted her bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000.