Sicilian dealer placed under bill of indictment

Davide Sapienza, the 34-year-old Sicilian charged with drug trafficking was denied bail as the prosecution has not yet summoned witnesses and there is fear he could abscond from the country.

Sapienza, a Sicilian car dealer residing in Malta, is facing charges of drug trafficking after the police seized three kilograms of cannabis resin and 30 grams of cocaine found in his possession.

Taking the witness stand, prosecuting inspector Gabrielle Micallef today exhibited €7,330 in cash seized from the residence of the accused.

Inspector Micallef also explained how officers had seized seven bags of cannabis grass. One of these bags contained half a kilo of the drug, three other bags contained 100 grams each and a further three bags each with 50 grams.

Sapienza himself told the police the weight of the cannabis grass in each of the bags.

Defence lawyer Gianella De Marco pleaded for the accused to be granted bail. "He has been living in Malta for the past seven months, and runs his business from here", the lawyer stated.

The accused has a clean police record, collaborated with investigators and should he abscond both Sicily and Malta are part of Schengen hence his surrender would not be an issue, the lawyer said

However, the prosecution objected to the bail request claiming there is fear Sapienza would abscond. Moreover, the prosecution has not yet summoned civilian witnesses to testify in the compilation of evidence.

At the end of the sitting, Magistrate Miriam Hayman held there is enough prima facia evidence to place Davide Sapienza under a bill of indictment. With regards to the request for bail, Magistrate Hayman held she will give her decision at a later time.

Inspector Gabriel Micallef is prosecuting while lawyers Giannella De Marco and Gianluca Caruana Curran appear for the accused.