Tip-off about drug dealing in Gżira apartment leads to arrest of two men

A tip-off about an individual allegedly dealing drugs from a Gżira apartment led to the arrest of two men.

Prosecuting police inspector Francesco Mizzi explained that at the beginning of the month, the police received information that a man, identified as Matthew Abela, was trafficking drugs out of a Gżira residence that was not his.

The police secured a search and arrest warrant and went on site on April 6. Inside the apartment, they found Abela, Stefano Boscolo Chielon and a third party.

Boscolo Chielon had a pipe which contained traces of cocaine.

At Abela’s residence, the police found heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

The first to be arraigned was 52-year-old Boscolo Chielon, a man born in Venice and who lived in Msida. He was accused of being in possession of drugs and to living an idle and vagrant life. He admitted to the charges.

In submissions on punishment, police inspector Mizzi requested a jail term of three months, saying that the time spent behind bars could help the man reform himself.

He also underlined that the amounts were not substantial.

Legal aid lawyer Victor Bugeja agreed to the prosecution’s request.

The court jailed Boscolo Chielon for three months.

Abela was arraigned next.

The 43-year-old unemployed man pleaded not guilty to trafficking heroin, cocaine and cannabis. He was also charged of aggravated possession of the drugs.

Lawyer Nicholas Mifsud requested bail on behalf of Abela.

Abela’s mother took the stand and testified that she was willing to let him live with her and provide for his needs.

The woman, in tears, said that she was willing to drive him to Caritas if need be. The woman acknowledged she knew about her son’s drug addiction but was willing to do all it takes to help him out of it.

Prosecutor Valentina Cassar objected to the request, saying the man was not trustworthy and needed to rehabilitate himself. At this stage, the best solution was to deny him bail so that he gets the help that he needed, she said. The prosecutor also noted that the man has a strong drug dependency and there were reasonable grounds to believe he would commit another offence to sustain it.

The defence rebutted, arguing that prison was not the most suitable place to assist the man, in view of the fact that there are other entities that could help the accused.

Mifsud argued that the man’s mother and brother were present in the courtroom and were ready to support him from this point onwards.

After hearing the submissions, the court took into account that prosecution and defence both declared that Abela needs help, and that there were civilian witnesses who had not yet testified.

Moreover, at this stage, the accused is neither on a waiting list for a rehabilitation programme nor is he being followed by a probation officer. The court denied him bail.

A freezing order was imposed on Abela’s assets.

Abela agreed to being placed under a temporary supervision order.

Magistrate Antoine Agius Bonnici presided.

AG Valentina Cassar prosecuted and assisted police inspector Francesco Mizzi in Abela’s case.

Lawyer Nicholas Mifsud appeared for Abela while legal aid lawyer Victor Bugeja assisted Boscolo Chielon.