Search for murder weapons lead police to drug find

Marlon Apap, 34 of Qormi, an Agricultural Inspector who is currently suspended from duty due to a court case related to drug trafficking, was today granted bail after pleading not guilty to charges of drug possession with the intent to traffic and keeping an unlicensed fire-arm.

The case came to light during searches for firearms made by officers from the Criminal Investigations Department in connection with the murder of Pietru Cassar known as ‘Il-Ħaqqa’. On 12 February, Cassar was killed by gunshots outside his home in Żejtun.

In the past days, investigating officers searching the residence of the accused came across seven capsules containing powder suspected to be heroin. The police also found an unlicensed firearm, however neither the accused nor the weapon found in his possession turned out to be connected to the Zejtun murder. The accused’s residence is in close proximity to a five-a-side football ground, aggravating the offence.

Prosecuting officer Nikolai Sant said each capsule contained about 11 grams of drug powder with a total street value of around €2500. Apap claimed he bought the capsules for €60 each. The prosecution objected to the defence counsel’s bail request, saying that the amount of drugs found shows it was not for personal use. Further more, although having a clean police record, Apap is currently facing separate proceedings related to charges of conspiring to traffic drugs.

Lawyer Franco Debono argued that case law proves that the amount found did not necessarily imply that the drug was not for personal use. “There are cases where the court decreed that 300 grams were for the accused’s personal use,” the lawyer argued.

Magistrate Antonio Vella upheld the request for bail and allowed Apap to walk out of court against a deposit of €3000 and a personal guarantee of €7000. The court ordered Apap not to leave his residence between 11pm and 6am. 

Inspector Nikolai Sant prosecuted while lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri appeared for the accused.