Landlord claims big ecstasy find at his flat

The landlord of a Mellieha apartment yesterday told a court he went to the flat a month after he learnt the tenant had left for the UK only to find an enormous amount of ecstasy pills in a box in the hallway.

Jeffrey Savage said he found a cardboard box with two bags inside and what seemed to be three cartons in an apartment he rented to an old friend.

He testified before Magistrate Abigail Lofaro in the compilation of evidence against Glenn Gorman, 31, and Anthony Paul Portelli, 32, who are pleading not guilty to the possession of ecstasy pills for sale and the trafficking of cannabis on January 29.

Savage chose to testify in the case after he was warned he could refuse to reply to questions if the answers could incriminate him.

He is currently undergoing separate court proceedings for drug possession, trafficking and conspiracy.

He yesterday explained how he was arrested near the Radisson Hotel on January 28 after police found him in possession of 600 ecstasy pills.

He was taken to police headquarters where he informed police that Gorman and Portelli were involved in drug dealing.

On instructions by Inspector Neil Harrison, Savage called Gorman on his mobile phone and asked him to provide him with a sample of cannabis because he knew someone who was interested.

During the telephone conversation Gorman told him that it would cost "six grand per K" which he understood to mean Lm6,000 per kilogramme of cannabis.

The next morning Savage phoned Gorman, as planned, and they agreed that Gorman was to deliver the sample to Savage in front of the Magic Kiosk, in Sliema.

Savage explained that he had known Gorman and Portelli for over 10 years because they frequented the same Paceville bars but he was not a good friend of theirs.

He said Gorman had once asked him if he knew anyone willing to rent an apartment and he offered to rent him his.

But when the time came for the first payment and Gorman did not make an appearance, Savage phoned him repeatedly on his mobile phone but there was no answer.

Savage then tried calling him in England.

"I was very angry because he left without even telling me or paying the rent. However, he reassured me he was coming back to Malta two weeks later and that he was going to pay me.

"But he remained in the UK and did not pay. That was when I realised he was trying to make a fool of me."

Savage went on to explain how he went to his Mellieha apartment in September because he had planned to refurbish it and sell it and found the cardboard box in the hall.

He said he called Gorman and threatened to go to the police but Gorman persuaded him not to and said he would return to Malta to remove the box.

But in the meantime, Gorman called him and asked him to deliver 600 ecstasy pills to a man he had previously met and who had introduced himself as "Alex's friend". Savage said he initially refused.

"I realised that Alex was somehow connected to Gorman so I asked him to pay me the rent money. But when Alex told me he would not pay me the full amount I threatened to take legal action.

"He then threatened me with my three-and-a-half year old daughter's life and threatened that I would lose my job."

Savage said he eventually spoke to Gorman and took notes of the drugs, intending to go to the police, but had cold feet.

"Then Portelli called me and instructed me to pick up a bag from near Australia Hall and take it to the Radisson Hotel's car park at 2 p.m. There I was to give the bag to the Maltese man," Savage said.

He explained he agreed to go because he was scared.

Savage also added that Portelli had told him to sell the ecstasy pills at Lm2.70 each instead of Lm2.50 but did not tell him what to do with the 20c profit.

The case continues.

Police Inspector Neil Harrison is prosecuting.

Dr Joseph Giglio is appearing for Portelli while Dr Chris Grima is appearing for Gorman.