A woman charged with smuggling drugs into prison almost a decade ago walked free as no link was found between the discovery of heroin inside two roasted chicken thighs and the person who delivered them.

Tania Calleja, 36, of Qormi, was accused of smuggling the heroin into jail in an attempt to deliver it to her nephew, Marco Pace, Il-Pinzell, on January 12, 2006.

Prison warder Paul Borg Bonaci testified that a woman had delivered food to prison. He did not know her name but said the woman claimed to be Mr Pace’s aunt.

He told Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras the food items in the bag brought by the woman included a loaf of bread, jelly, a plastic container with four doughnuts and another plastic container with two breaded chicken thighs, sausages and potatoes.

When the woman left, he was authorised by his superior to examine the food. When he sliced open the chicken thighs, he saw a parcel wrapped in cellophane wedged between the bone and the joint. He informed his superiors and forensic tests later confirmed that the substance was heroin.

Ms Calleja denied placing the drugs inside the chicken and the prosecution did not produce proof of whether she had been cautioned before making the statement, so this was ruled as inadmissible evidence.

Magistrate Galea Sciberras noted that the prosecution’s main witness – the prison warder who found the drugs – admitted he did not know the woman’s name and at no point during his testimony was he asked to confirm whether it was the accused or whether he was recognising her in court.

All other witnesses, the court added, had simply repeated whatever the prison warder had told them and this was ruled as being mere hearsay.

Ms Calleja was, therefore, cleared of all the charges brought against her.

Assistant Police Commissioner Norbert Ciappara prosecuted.

Lawyer Edward Gatt appeared for the woman.