The star witness in the trial of a Rabat fisherman yesterday testified that he had been given 14 kilogrammes of drugs by a fisherman to sell at €582 per kilogramme.

Egyptian Ekramy Abdel Aziz Mobarak, 33 testified against Andrea Zammit, 58, also known as Nizza, who stands charged with conspiring to import drugs, trafficking and being in possession of the drug in circumstances denoting it was not for his exclusive use.

He is also charged with possessing dead protected birds on December 22, 2005 at about 1 a.m.

Mr Mobarak testified that he had been offered some work by a friend of his who then introduced him to Mr Zammit, who in turn said he had a boat and that Mr Mobarak could sell drugs for him.

Mr Zammit told him that he wanted to sell the drugs at €582 per kilogramme.

On the day in question he arranged to pick the drugs up from Mr Zammit who met him at his farm in Tal-Virtú where he gave him a wooden box containing the drugs.

On his way back to Saqqajja Hill he was stopped by the police who handcuffed him and searched the car, where they found the drugs hidden.

Mr Mobarak had already admitted to his involvement in the case before standing trial by jury and was jailed for 12 years and fined €34,940.

During yesterday's five-hour cross examination, by defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi, who highlighted a number of inconsistencies with his testimony, it came to light that the delivery of the drugs was a controlled one.

At this point the press were asked to leave and a legal point was raised which was discussed behind closed doors between the prosecution, the defence and the presiding judge, Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono.

On returning, one hour later at eight o'clock, the press were informed that they could not publish any of the names that had been mentioned in the testimony of Mr Mobarak.

Taking the witness stand earlier in the day, Mario Mifusd, a court appointed expert, said that the drugs were worth €86,000.

Another witness, Police Sergeant Joseph Mallia, said there were no finger prints matching those of Mr Zammit on any of the bags which contained the drugs.

The case will resume this morning.