Cannabis arrest takes dark turn after police search suspect's phone

A man initially arrested for suspected cannabis trafficking was found to have child porn and videos of bestiality on his phone, a court heard on Saturday.

Orazio D’Anna, a 33-year-old Italian national, faces criminal charges related to child pornography and extreme pornography, as well as aggravated possession of cannabis.

He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Saturday morning in front of Magistrate Jean Paul Grech.

Prosecuting Inspector Jonathan Pace explained that the accused was initially arrested in January when police stopped and searched him and found four sachets of cannabis as well as more cannabis at his home.

Officers had been informed that D’Anna was trafficking drugs using a scooter. They watched him, saw him exchange something with various people and then moved to stop and search him.

The case became far more serious after officers extracted data from his mobile phone.

On the phone, officers found photos of drugs, cash and the accused holding large sums of money, as well as child porn videos of children younger than nine. Other videos showed acts of bestiality, the court was told.  

The accused was granted police bail three times as investigations continued before he was eventually charged, the court was told.

Defence lawyers requested bail, arguing that the accused had adhered to conditions imposed as part of his earlier police bail and presenting the accused’s girlfriend as a witness.

She told the court the couple had been together for five years, live together and are expecting a baby.

Bail was denied due to the gravity of the charges and his being a flight risk due to his lack of ties to Malta.

The defence said the magistrate had failed to address their point that the accused had attended police bail appointments three times and said it reserved its right to file a constitutional case on that point.

Attorney General lawyer Nadia Ciappara led the prosecution, alongside police inspectors Jonathan Pace and Dorianne Tabone.

The accused was represented by lawyers Franco Debono and Adreana Zammit.