Convicted murderer jailed after hiding heroin in Playmobil toys

A convicted murderer, who is currently serving a 22-year jail term for the murder of his 82-year-old neighbour in 2002, was this morning jailed for an additional 20 months after he was found guilty of trafficking heroin while in prison.

Giovanni Pollacco, 50, of Msida and residing in prison, was also found guilty of being in possession of the drug.

The case dates back to September 2005, when three prison wardens carried out a search of the accused’s cell at the Corradino Correctional Facility in Paola. The search yielded a small bag which upon further investigation was found to contain several Playmobil plastic motorcycles.

Inside the toy motorcycles, police found eight hidden sachets covered in black tape.

The sachets were found to contain 7.6 grams of heroin and 1.35 grams of cannabis, amounts which in the court’s opinion denoted that they were not for his exclusive use.

In his defence, the accused admitted to being in possession of the drugs but insisted that he was only keeping the drugs for another person. While failing to mention the alleged supplier, Pollacco also claimed that in return for his safe-keeping, he was being paid to sustain his drug habit.

In its decree the court, presided by Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, cleared the accused of conspiring to commit a crime after it ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that Pollacco had in fact been working with another person.

The court also cleared the man of taking the drugs into prison after the prosecution failed to prove the charge.

Moreover, the court argued that the accused has a lengthy criminal record and has in the past been convicted of aggravated theft, heroin trafficking, and murder. Consequently, it sentenced Pollacco to 20 months in prison and fined him €900.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras presided while Inspector Pierre Grech prosecuted.