Man jailed for six-and-a-half years over drug possession

A 36-year-old man from Zejtun was today jailed for six-and-a-half years and fined €15,000 under a new procedure that allows criminal cases to be referred to the Criminal Court for judgment without the need of the lengthy compilation of evidence process and resulting Bill of Indictment.

It is one of the first, if not the first, time this procedure has been utilised.

Acting on a tip off, the police had arrested Aaron Scortino as he was driving between Qormi and Zejtun on the 27 March this year. A consignment of cannabis and cocaine, collectively weighing  almost one kilogramme, was found in the accused’s vehicle.

Scortino admitted to charges of cannabis and cocaine possession in order to avoid a trial by jury. The accused and prosecution presented a joint application to the court on the 3rd December wherein they informed the court that a plea bargain had been struck and requested the agreed sentence and fine.

The court also ordered the confiscation in favour of the Government of Malta of all monies and property, both movable and immovable belonging to the accused, as well as ordering that all objects connected to the crime be destroyed.

Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Franco Debono appeared for Scortino.