Magistrate jails heroin pusher

A 25-year-old man was yesterday jailed for 13 months and fined €900 (Lm386.37) after he was found guilty of trafficking in heroin.

Massimilliano Dimech from Marsascala was found guilty of trafficking in heroin between October and December 2004.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano heard that the police had stopped Mr Dimech in a road block and, on searching the car, they found 10 packets of heroin. Mr Dimech had admitted to owning the drugs and he told the court that he had to sell the substance in order to sustain his habit.

When considering the punishment, Magistrate Quintano took into consideration the fact that this was not his first offence and in a short time he had started taking drugs again. However, Mr Dimech had made significant changes to his life and had showed the will to reform.

Police Inspector Dennis Theuma prosecuted.