Cannabis possession during suspended sentence lands relapser 15-month jail term

Somali man jailed for a year and three months after pleading guilty to relapsing and possession of three sachets of cannabis

File photo
File photo

A 24-year-old Somali man was this morning imprisoned for one year and three months after pleading guilty to being possession of three sachets of cannabis while serving a suspended sentence.

The accused, Mohammed Kheyre Heybe, currently residing in Gzira, also admitted to relapsing after committing the crime during the operative period of suspended sentence.

The court heard that in April the accused was handed a one-year suspended jail term after he admitted to committing a theft.

The court also heard that on Sunday, police officials discovered the accused to be in possession of three sachets of cannabis.

Taking into account his guilty plea, Magistrate Charmaine Galea jailed the man for three months for being in possession of cannabis, and for a year for committing the crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence.

On his part, Heybe told the court that he intends to file an appeal and consequently, the court granted him bail for eight days until he lodges an appeal. Warning him to file the appeal within eight days or face imprisonment, the magistrate released him against a deposit of €100 and a personal guarantee of €2,500.

He was also warned that if he does not file an appeal within eight days, he would be imprisoned.

Inspector Nikolai Sant prosecuted while Lawyer Anthony Cutajar was legal aid.