A trial by jury started yesterday morning of a Libyan national who is charged with conspiring to deal in cannabis and heroin and importing cannabis, allegedly using a drug courier to get the drug here.
Murad G.M. Erhuma, 26, from Tripoli is charged with conspiring to deal in heroin on and before December 2003 and conspiring to deal in and importing cannabis in September 2004.
Taking the witness stand, Police Inspector Dennis Theuma said that he was informed by customs officials on September 17, 2004 that they had stopped a Libyan national at the airport.
The inspector told jurors that this man had been found in possession of three packets containing three blocks of cannabis resin amounting to 740 grams with a street value of €4,660 (Lm2000).
The man was Magdi Ayad Bin Elkayal, who told the police that he was a friend of Mr Erhuma. "Mr ElKayal told us that Mr Erhuma had given him the drugs and he had already passed through customs and was in the arrivals lounge of the airport waiting for him."
The police subsequently arrested Mr Erhuma there. Mr Erhuma denied any knowledge of the drugs, saying he and Mr Elkayal were simply acquaintances and it was a coincidence that they were on the same flight.
Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, presiding over the case, heard Mr Elkayal testify that he was promised $700 by Mr Erhuma to take the cannabis to Malta. They were supposed to take a taxi to a hotel after landing.
Mr Elkayal, who has been in jail for the past four years, said that at first he thought the packets contained archaeological items but failed to ask Mr Erhuma what they were.
A 31-year-old Libyan, Omar Mohamed Mehemud Erayani, who was jailed for five years and fined €11,659 (Lm5,000) after admitting to the importation of 38 grams of heroin, had testified against Mr Erhuma previously. He said that he was the person who told him to bring the drugs into Malta.
The case continues.
Lawyers Anthony Barbara and Nadine Sant, representing the Attorney General, prosecuted. Lawyer Joe Mifsud appeared for Mr Erhuma.