Nine years later, reformed drug user jailed for eight months

John Farrugia, a 39-year-old Australian man residing in Fgura, has been sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to being in possession and of trafficking heroin in a case dating back nine years ago.

The case dates back to March 2 2005, the accused was found to be in possession of 0.61 grams of heroin with 28% purity. Farrugia, who at the time of the drug find admitted to selling drugs to sustain his drug habit, told the court that at the time of the offence he used to purchase a gram of heroin daily for Lm 35 – half of which he used to sell to sustain his drug habit.

The accused registered a guilty plea in October 2011, admitting to being in possession of and to trafficking heroin. Moreover, the court held that since Farrugia admitted to the charges, he has reformed and has abided by a care plan – as confirmed by a Sedqa representative, who told the court that the accused has not had any heroin for four years.

Despite pleading guilty and cooperating with the police, the court noted that the accused has been granted bail twice for two offences of simple possession and simple theft.

In handing down the judgment, the court found him guilty of the charges and sentences him to eight months in prison. Farrugia was also found guilty of €900, and ordered to pay €284 in court expenses.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras presided while Superintendent Norbert Ciappara prosecuted.