[attach id=237938 size="medium"]Police acted on “confidential information” that there was drug activity at the PN’s club in Mosta. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier[/attach]
A police investigation into the Nationalist Party’s Mosta club ended with five people being arraigned on drug-related charges, including the three people who ran the bar, The Times has learnt.
The police investigation began in September 2010 but the case went unreported for months, even after four of the accused were sentenced. The fifth is still facing drug trafficking charges.
Labour’s deputy leader Toni Abela, under fire for failing to report a case of alleged drug trafficking at a PL club, revived the Mosta case during a recent press conference where he defended his actions. He had said there was a prostitution racket in Mosta.
The Times asked the police and the Nationalist Party for information about the case and has been supplied with most of the details.
It turns out the police acted on “confidential information” that there was drug activity and pole dancing at the club.
“Police inspections effected on site proved negative and no evidence of pole dancing was observed. However, further intensive investigation made regarding drug activity at the said club, proved fruitful,” the police said.
As a result of the investigation, five were charged in court, including three people who used the run the bar.
Mosta resident Carmen Camilleri was charged in June 2011 with “aggravated trafficking of cannabis resin and cocaine” as well as aggravated possession of cannabis. Her case is still ongoing.
The PN always provided the police with the necessary tools to fight crime
Kevin Bonello, also from Mosta, was in January 2012 conditionally discharged for “trafficking by sharing” as well as cannabis and cocaine possession.
The other three were found guilty of drug possession. These included Birkirkara resident Charlene Fenech, who was conditionally discharged in March 2012 for cannabis possession, and Michael Cassar and Emanuel Vella, who were fined €235 each for aggravated cannabis and cocaine possession.
When the PN was originally asked about the case, it had acknowledged there were allegations of wrongdoing but said when the case came to light, it “closed down the premises immediately and gave all access to the police to investigate”.
“The club did not open before the police said it was OK to reopen the club,” the PN had said. Since the police said their information was relayed confidentially, The Times sent further questions to the PN to understand whether a police report had been filed following allegations of wrongdoing.
The police have not clarified whether they ever received a report from the PN.
In a detailed reply sent yesterday, the PN said several reports by a number of people had reached the party in the summer of 2010.
“The reports were about the volume of the music after-hours, the closing time and other complaints about the bar’s management, including the type of people who frequented the bar,” the PN spokesman said, adding that the PN “cooperated” with the Mosta police to probe these reports, contrary to what Dr Abela did with his case. Meanwhile, the PN became aware that the person running the bar was not the same person contracted by the party so the contract was ended and the club was closed immediately.
“The club only opened after the police confirmed its investigations has concluded,” the PN said, adding that it was informed a number of people had since been arraigned on drug charges.
The PN said it was clear that while the Labour Party interfered in investigations and asked police not to investigate, while failing to report illicit activity in its clubs, the PN always provided the police with the necessary tools to fight crime, wherever it occurred.