Nine-month jail term over three ecstasy pills

Roderick Castillo, 33 of Marsaskala, was imprisoned for nine months and fined €1,500 after being found guilty to charges of drug trafficking and relapsing.

During a party held on the 9 May 2008, the police arrested a certain Victoria Buhagiar in whose possession three ecstasy pills were found. When questioned by the police the woman said Castillo, who was her boyfriend, had given her the pills. The accused released a police statement admitting he had given the pills to his girlfriend so that she carries them into the party. He also stated that Buhagiar did not use drugs.

The defence counsel called on the court to ignore the police statement as it was taken at a time when the law did not provide for legal assistance at interrogation stage.

However Magistrate Marsanne Farrugia argued that at the time of the offence, the accused was 28 with four prior convictions, over theft and simple possession of heroin. "This proves the accused was well-versed in interrogation proceedings and was surely not intimidated by the fact he was being questioned by the police. Furthermore when given the right to remain silent, Castillo understood this well enough that he chose not to tell the investigators who had sold him the pills," the magistrate said.

The court sentenced Castillo to nine months in jail and fined €1,500 to be paid in installments starting a month after his release from prison. Inspector Dennis Theuma prosecuted.