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‘I would have fared better in Iran’, says defence over youth facing prison over cannabis joint
Sicilian youths facing up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of €11,000 over a joint.
28 October 2013, 12:00am
Chris Mangion
Chris Mangion
1 min read
Updated with clarification
The lawyer for a Sicilian youth accused of drug trafficking, told a court his client would have fared better had he been arrested in Iraq rather than Malta, after he was caught in possession of a cannabis joint.
Emanuele Giunta, 25, pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking 0.4 grammes of cannabis by sharing a joint with co-national Giuseppe Covato, 22. The latter pleaded guilty to charges of simple possession. "I came to Malta to try cannabis, but if I went to Iran I'd have felt better," Giunta was heard telling his defence lawyer.
The two men were fined €500. Giunta was handed a six-month sentence, suspended for three years.
Prosecuting inspector Johann Fenech told the court the two Sicilians, both of Modica, were appreheded by the police in Paceville last Saturday night. The officer stated that both men admitted to the charges and a prison term was definitely not the ideal conclusion of the case. The two men collaborated with the investigating officers but the person who allegedly sold them the drug was not apprehended.
Legal aid lawyer Joseph Ellis lashed out at current legislation on drug use, commenting that "every prime minister in Europe has admitted to smoking a joint at one time or another, however our legislation still embraces such draconian measures."
The charges against Giunta for trafficking 0.4g of cannabis carried a maximum €11,000 fine and a 10-year jail term. The defence counsel described such cases as a waste of police time and court resources and said that a change in legislation should be immediately sought.
Chris Mangion is MaltaToday’s photojournalist, joining the newspaper in 2013.
In 1995...
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ehm... for all who don't know cannabis is legal and regulated in Iran...
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ehm... for all who don't know cannabis is legal and regulated in Iran...
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Re: Xifajk
You´re an idiot. if your government or judgical system says it´s illegal to breath, would you suffocate urself to death? wake up. it´s cause of people like you that malta´s so far behind from civilisation
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Re: POSTED BY: rcasha — 29/10/2013 07:43:56 "Magistrate Marsanne Farrugia has retired to her chambers to consider judgement." That was yesterday. Don't tell me she's still in there. How about an update?
perhaps she´s enjoying what´s left of the evidence ^-^
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The problem in malta is not just the law , its the people too, when people see someone different or someone with a different opinion , instead of trying to understand what is happening around them, they see the people around them as a threat . We must learn that everyone has his own life and that we have no right in stoping others as much as others have no right to stop us. Please maltese people grow up ! Just because we are in the Eu it doesn't mean we are eu standard, at least in attitude and the way many people think is worst than 3rd world countries.
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I am not sure they would have been better off in Iran, but Malta does sound like there are gaps in the law that allow such injustice as imprisoning people that have done no harm to others.
We were planning a holiday in Malta next year but have decided to avoid it - there are far safer and more Just places to visit.
It's the 21st century, cannabis is being legalised and laws eased around the world and Malta seems stuck in the dark ages
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small fish get caught,the big fish scampers away!
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"Magistrate Marsanne Farrugia has retired to her chambers to consider judgement."
That was yesterday. Don't tell me she's still in there. How about an update?
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hope this is a 1st of april pan right? am totally against such habits but again cigrattes do more damage in the long term
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Mr. Guinta must have been under the influence of something much stronger than a cannabis joint to state that he would have fared better in Iran. Do yourself a favour and shut up.
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What a backwards country this is. Unbelievable.
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Actually, it's me who passed that comment, not the accused who was too emotional to utter any word when he was informed that he faces up to 10 years imprisonment. And this for sharing a joint with a friend. I told him that the only place where he would have been worse off would have been Iran because of Malta's absurd prohibitionism. I called this case an indecent spectacle and a waste of court time and police resources which should be used elsewhere.
J. Ellis.
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Dan ma jafx li kieku kien il-far east kien jispicca that it-trab ? Il-Ligijiet qedin hemm biex jigu osservati. Wara 25 sena ta Gvern nazzjonalsita li kien mejjet barra fejn ikun hemm akkwisti peronnali, x'qed tippretendu li Joseph johrog il-Bakketta Magika jew jibda jaghmel il-Mirakli ?
Nixtiq inkun Naf jekk xi malti jikser il-Ligi fl Italia, il ligijiet ta hemm joqodux jghidu li dak Malti? Il-Guztizzja trid issir MA KULLHADD u basta
