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Embassy pleads for man accused with sneaking drugs into prison
Embassy pledges it will make good if accused is granted bail, but bail is denied by court.
28 June 2013, 12:00am
Chris Mangion
Chris Mangion
1 min read
The Libyan Embassy pledged it will make good if Tarek Ibrahim Alshlmani is granted bail in the next sitting, but the court denied the accused bail.
The 42-year-old Libyan, who suffers from serious medical problems, walked into the courtroom on crutches. He was arrested yesterday while visiting his friend in prison.
After the prison guards frisked Alshlmani, he was let in to meet a Libyan prisoner. While the two were talking, the guards in the room noticed the accused was in possession of a small sachet, in which they found two grams of heroin.
Veronique Dalli, appearing for Alshlmani, told the magistrate the Libyan Embassy was ready to bail out the accused. It also resulted the man was living in a hotel in St Julian's. His accommodation was also being paid by the Embassy.
Police inspectors Johann Fenech and Jurgen Vella objected to the request for bail. The prosecution claimed the man has no ties with Malta so will find it easy to abscond. They also highlighted the serious nature of the crime.
The defence reiterated that the accused has serious medical problems which impeded him from walking properly.
"He can't even walk without crutches let alone escape," she said. Alshlmani was scheduled to leave Malta tomorrow to receive medical treatment in Germany.
Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras deferred the sitting for a few minutes to ponder the request before denying him bail.
Dean Hili also appeared for the accused.
Chris Mangion is MaltaToday’s photojournalist, joining the newspaper in 2013.
In 1995...
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Affarijetntad-Dahkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. Min jaghmel il-HAZIN ghandu ippati ghalih, huwa min huwa.
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"He can't even walk without crutches let alone escape," she said. Alshlmani was scheduled to leave Malta tomorrow to receive medical treatment in Germany.
Well in all probability his friends at the Libyan Embassy will help him escape. This guy is a nuissance. He was in Malta to receive treatment after the Libyan civil war and he's still here 2 years after living the life at the Vivaldi Hotel....all paid by the Libyan Embassy. I say LOCK HIM UP adn throw the key!
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I wonder what else the Libyan Embassy is paying for besides his residency. I think the judge is right in not allowing bail. Walking on crutches is no excuse to carry two grams of heroin into the prison. Police inspectors Johann Fenech and Jurgen Vella had every right to object to the request for bail. If convicted this man should be put on the first flight to Libya with instructions never to return to Malta..
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THE MAN SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTION BEFORE HE TRAFFICKED DRUGS IN OUR PRISONS. THE REFUSAL TO GRANT BAIL IS JUST AND COMMENSURATE WITH OTHER JUDGEMENTS OF A SIMILAR NATURE. THANK GOD OUR COURTS SEEM TO HAVE OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS THERE WERE AND ARE NOW SERVING THE NATION AS THEY SHOULD.
