Suspended sentence over cannabis intended for personal use

Spanish youth Africa Paya Sanchez was handed a suspended jail term when she pleaded guilty to importing a piece of cannabis resin that was for her own use.

The 26-year-old from Valencia was arrested on Thursday in her Gzira residence after police traced a parcel containing the cannabis resin that had arrived in Malta by post.

Prosecuting inspector Nikolai Sant told the court the drug, amounting to less than 10grams, was imported by the youth specifically for her own use.

Considering the accused's guilty plea, Magistrate Francesco Depasquale gave the accused time to ponder her admission. After the youth confirmed her guilt, the court convicted her of importation of drugs and handed her a six-month jail term, suspended for a year.

The magistrate explained that no fine was imposed of the accused in order not to place any further burden on her. "If I imposed a fine it would have been hefty, so go, and do not repeat your mistake," Depasquale said.

Legal aid lawyer Cedric Mifsud appeared for the accused.