Six plead guilty to drug dealing

Six men were yesterday jailed for periods ranging between eight and 14 years for dealing in drugs after a judge ruled that such crimes are a scourge to Maltese society since they ruin the lives of many people, especially the young, for the sake of money.

The men filed guilty pleas in four separate cases during what was to be the beginning of their trial by jury presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono.

In the first court case Tunisian Ramadan El Mezoughi Elhadi, 62, who was represented by Dr Malcolm Mifsud, was jailed for 13 years and fined Lm14,000.

Elhadi admitted to the possession of 916 grammes of heroin and 13.22 grammes of cannabis in circumstances denoting they were not for his personal use on and before February 6, 2003. The drugs were seized by police during a raid in his San Gwann apartment.

In a separate case, Joseph Borg, 42, of Gzira was jailed for 13 years and fined Lm20,000 while co-accused John Sultana, 43, of Xaghra, was jailed for 14 years and fined Lm22,000.

Both men admitted to conspiring to deal in 1,941.2 grammes of cocaine, of some 88 per cent purity, importing it and trafficking in the drug on and before December 14, 2001.

Borg, assisted by Dr Edward Gatt, also admitted to trafficking in cannabis and Sultana, assisted by Dr Anglu Farrugia, admitted to importing heroin.

Mr Justice Galea Debono heard how some time in the summer of 2001, Borg imported cannabis on Sultana's request. In December of that year Sultana acquired cocaine from abroad and left it on MV Zebbug, a Sea Malta ship, from where Borg, who worked with Sea Malta, was to pick it up. Sultana was to pay Borg Lm3,000 for his involvement

However, Borg was apprehended by the police while in the possession of the cocaine. He agreed to cooperate with the police and carry out a controlled delivery as a result of which Sultana was arrested.

In a third case, John Bartolo, 37, of Zejtun was jailed for 12 years and fined Lm12,000 and Anthony Camilleri, 37, of Marsascala was jailed for eight years and fined Lm8,000 for cultivating some 122 cannabis plants in Zejtun on and before January 14, 2003.

Bartolo, represented by Dr Michael Sciriha and Dr Ian Farrugia, admitted to trafficking in cannabis and the possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence. Camilleri, assisted by Dr Franco Debono and Dr Joseph Giglio, did not contest being a relapser.

After being informed that the cannabis plant was being cultivated in a Zejtun house the police found that the house belonged to Bartolo.

Police officers searched the house where they found over 122 cannabis plants, which weighed 8,288.952 grammes once cleaned and dried, electronic weighing scales and several plastic bags.

Bartolo was present during the search and after some time Camilleri turned up at the house and both men were arrested.

Finally, Antoine Debattista, 36, of Swieqi was jailed for nine years and fined Lm11,000 for conspiring to deal in ecstasy, trafficking in the same drug and the possession of cocaine and cannabis in circumstances denoting they were not for his personal use in August 2001.

Debattista, represented by Dr José Herrera and Dr Roberto Montalto, was apprehended by the police while leaving his house. He was carrying a camera pouch inside which were several bags containing ecstasy, some cocaine and a bar of cannabis resin. He sold the ecstasy for Lm7 a pill near his house.

On handing down judgement in the four cases, the judge noted that the six accused filed a guilty plea at an early stage of the proceedings. He also took note of the individual circumstances and criminal records of the accused and the extent to which they cooperated with the police.

Senior Counsel to the Republic Mark Said and Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara prosecuted.