21-year-old jailed for one year after admitting to cultivating and selling cannabis

A Mosta youth will be spending the next year in a Young Offenders Unit after he pleaded guilty to growing, possessing and selling marijuana

The accused was charged with cultivation of cannabis, producing and trafficking cannabis, and possession of cannabis in circumstances which denoted that it was not exclusively intended for his personal use
The accused was charged with cultivation of cannabis, producing and trafficking cannabis, and possession of cannabis in circumstances which denoted that it was not exclusively intended for his personal use

A Mosta youth will be spending the next year in a young offender's unit after he pleaded guilty to growing, possessing and selling marijuana this morning.

Inspector Jonathan Cassar arraigned 21-year-old Ryan Agius before duty magistrate Monica Vella on charges of cultivation of cannabis, producing and trafficking cannabis resin, as well as parts of the cannabis plants, and possession of cannabis, in both resin and plant form, in circumstances which denoted that it was not exclusively intended for his personal use. Agius was further charged with having been in possession of cocaine in May last year.

More details about the case did not emerge during the sitting.

Defence lawyers Alfred Abela and Mario Mifsud, approached the magistrate's bench together with inspector Cassar to discuss the case out of earshot of the media.

The sitting resumed after some time and a guilty plea was filed.

Agius was sentenced to one year in jail, with the court recommending that he be held at the Young Offenders Unit. He was also fined €450 and ordered to pay the costs of appointing court experts within three years.

Inspector Cassar asked that the court not order the destruction of the drugs at this stage due to new developments in the police investigation. The request was upheld.