Convicted drug trafficker set to appeal over alleged influence on his sentence

Convicted drug importer Darren Desira, 37 of Zebbug, is this morning expected to appeal against an 18-year prison sentence which was handed down last month by Judge Lawrence Quintano.

Desira's case is pivotal to the criminal charges being brought against former Judge Raymond Pace, who was yesterday released on bail after spending four nights under preventive arrest since his arraignment last Thursday on corruption, trading in influence and money laundering charges.

Through his lawyers Joseph Giglio and Edward Tonna Lowell, Desira is expected to make reference to the news about allegations of influence on his judgement by Pace.

Informal plea bargaining negotiations between Desira's defence lawyers and the office of the Attorney General are understood to have failed, and the defence submitted the case to the Criminal Courts, where Desira had stand trial on November 27 before Judge Lawrence Quintano. Defence lawyers Giglio and Tonna Lowell were asking for a 10 to 12 year jail term which the Attorney General refused to accept.

As expected, Desira pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to import two kilogrammes of cocaine, and during pre-sentencing submissions before Mr Justice Quintano, Giglio and Tonna Lowell stuck to their plea for a 10 to 12 year jail term.

The prosecution led by Lawyers Aaron Bugeja and Giannella Busuttil who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General stressed that Desira deserved more than 10 to 12 years.

He was subsequently jailed for18 years and fined almost €50,000 by Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano.

The judgment handed to Desira falls within the parameters of the law, albeit the maximum sentence on conspiracy to import and traffic drugs carries a maximum of life in prison.

Police claim that they have evidence that there was an attempt by Pace to influence the judgement, and Mr. Justice Quintano will be testifying as a prosecution witness against Pace on January 7.

Police have also stressed that Mr. Justice Quintano is totally estranged to the investigation.

During a sitting lasting almost two hours yesterday, Police Superintendent Norbert Ciappara revealed how during investigations, it transpired that Sandro Psaila, 40 of Valletta, and Raymond Caruana, 51 of Zebbug, were intercepted by the Security Services while conversing over the phone, and agreeing to put pressure on their 'acquaintance' - former Judge Raymond Pace - to have Desira jailed for a long time.

According to Superindent Ciappara, under interrogation Caruana denied knowing the Judge at first, but subsequently admitted to not only knowing him, but also to having agreed with his co-accused Sandro Psaila to put pressure on Pace so as to have Desira's jail term increased when sentencing during his trial before Judge Lawrence Quintano last month.

Caruana also told the Police that he wanted Desira to pay dearly for his mistake for having not paid him a debt of €100,000.Last month, Darren Desira had registered a guilty plea and was handed an 18-year jail term and fined €50,000 by Judge Quintano. Desira was accused of having imported two kilogrammes of cocaine together with other persons via a Sea Malta ship from Reggio Calabria.

Mr Justice Quintano, who has not been implicated in any investigation, is to give evidence in Ray Pace's case on January 17.