Court indicts niece of Marsa murder victim on drug charges

Marco Belli, 32, and Michelle Vella, 30, were placed under a bill of indictment today by Magistrate Miriam Hayman for trafficking over 200 grams of heroin.

Vella, who is currently pregnant, was identified as the niece of Paul Degabriele, 'is-Suldat', who was murdered in Marsa late in May.

Inspector Johann Fenech told the court how on 3 June an Audi A4 was stopped by the police in Marsa.

Twenty-one capsules containing heroin were found in a suitcase on the backseat. Belli was behind the wheel. Libyans Bashir Ali Mohammed Esgayeir, 32, and Nabil Farhar Koiuja, 33, were passengers in the same car. Nabil claimed the suitcase was his.

From investigations, the police learnt the Libyans had arrived in Malta from Tripoli some days before. Bashir, knowing the police were watching him, him asked Nabil to swallow the capsules and carry the drugs for him. Nabil was promised €3000 for the delivery.

After their arrival at the Sliema Hotel, Nabil passed 22 capsules. Bashir met Vella at the Sliema Ferries and gave her one capsule so she could check the quality of the drugs. She told Bashir she would not pay more than €35 per gram.

The following day, Vella informed Bashir the quality was good and agreed to pay him €30 per gram. The accused was to pick up the Libyans, effect the transaction and take them to the airport.

After the car was intercepted, a search was carried out at the residence of the accused. During the search Belli had voluntarily handed over two small packets containing heroin to the investigators. The police also seized laptops and a mobile phone from the Libyan nationals. Vella was arrested the following morning.

Magistrate Hayman said there is enough prima facie evidence to place the two under a bill of indictment. Both were charged with association to traffic drugs, while Belli was also charged with possession of heroin.

Inspectors Pierre Grech and Johann Fenech prosecuted. Joe Giglio appeared for the accused.