Man guilty of trafficking cocaine sachet he took to wedding

Malcolm Vella, 31, of San Gwann, was handed a two-year suspended jail term after being convicted of possession and sharing of cocaine, in a case dating back to October 2005.

"The police had received information about drug purchases made by a certain Owen Psaila and Malcolm Vella," prosecuting officer superintendent Norbert Ciappara said. The informant had pointed out the accused as the man who bought drugs to hand over to other people attending a wedding on 8 October 2005.

Police officers went to Luqa where the alleged drug deal was taking place, however they only found Owen Psaila there. A search on Psaila revealed eight sachets containing 3.01 grams of 42% pure cocaine. The suspect in whose possession the drug was found claimed it had been Vella who asked him to keep the drugs, while he rushed home to get a jacket. Moments later the accused returned to the scene and was arrested by the police still on site.

A sachet containing 0.49 grams of cocaine was found in Vella's possession. The accused had paid €349 (Lm150) for the drug.

During interrogation Psaila argued for his innocence with the police, repeatedly insisting it was Malcom Vella who bought the drug and he was only keeping it for him. Moreover Psaila stated that he used the cocaine with the accused, after the latter told him he could have some of the substance he bought for himself.

Vella admitted with the investigators that it was he who had purchased the drugs with the intent of sharing it with Psaila at the wedding. The accused said he would occasionally use up to two grams of cocaine in a single night. "I'm neither an addict nor do I make use of any other drugs," he told the police.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras found Vella guilty of trafficking by sharing and handed him an eight-month jail term suspended for two years.

Superintendent Norbert Ciappara prosecuted while lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili appeared for the accused.