Suspected cannabis trafficker cleared of charges

Edmond Debono, 35 of Rabat was cleared of drug trafficking charges after the court deemed two main witnesses in the case were unreliable.

The court held that the prosecution had failed to prove it was the accused, known as 'il-Mundu' who sold the drug. "The evidence shows that the accused actually asked to buy rather than sell," the court said. 

Debono was accused of trafficking cannabis on 26 June 2007. Having received anonymous information that drugs were being trafficked in Lija, police officers searched a Honda Civic in which they found 250 grams of cannabis.

The vehicle was driven by another person, Nicholas Gauci. A search carried at Gauci's residence resulted in other drug findings.

The police then turned its attention to a Pajero vehicle owned by the accused, which was parked next to the Honda. Searches in the vehicle and residence of the accused resulted in the negative, except for a joint with traces of cannabis.

Magistrate Edwina Grima decreed that under oath Nicholas Gauci had changed his version from what he had told the police. The court asked if Gauci did this to cover his tracks.

The court also raised similar questions over the evidence given by Paul Bugeja, a passenger in one of the cars, who confirmed he witnessed a deal despite declaring had never seen a block of cannabis resin in real life. In the past, both Bugeja and Gauci were found guilty of drug trafficking charges.

The court also noted how the drug was found in Gauci's possession and no money was found on the accused or in his vehicle.

It acquitted the accused of all charges, holding his version as being the most reliable evidence in the case.

Inspector Pierre Grech prosecuted while lawyers Lucio and Michael Sciriha appeared for the accused.