Woman convicted of trafficking gets reduction in prison term

50-year old Anna Spiteri, of Marsa, had her prison term reduced from 17 years to 12, and had her fine reduced after she appealed judgement.

On 5 February this year Spiteri was accused of drug possession and conspiring to import 3.5 kilograms of heroin, not intended for her personal use.

Upon her return from Tunisia, the accused had been stopped by Customs officers, who found heroin hidden inside two laptops in her suitcase. Spiteri denied any involvement with the drugs, saying her former boyfriend, Nagi Al Margash, had packed her bag and given it to her at the airport in Tunisia, saying it contained presents for his brother, Mohammed Ahmed, and their cousin, Isaam Abdulmawla Zbeda.

However, with seven votes to two, the jury found her guilty as charged and she was imprisoned for 17 years and fined €37,000. The case dates back to September 2008.

Defence lawyer Joe Brincat argued the convicted had cooperated with the police and should have benefited from a reduction in sentence. In his appeal, the defence lawyer explained that based on the information given by the convicted, the police discovered who masterminded the deal. Dr Brincat highlighted that even the jurors had asked for clemency in the punishment.

The Court of Appeal was presided over by Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri, and Judges David Scicluna and Joseph Zammit McKeon ruled that the law states that the prosecution failed to mentioned that the convicted had cooperate with the police and helped in investigations, which led to the arrest of other people.

Chief Justice Camilleri delivered judgement, reducing Spiteri’s jail term to 12 years and the fine to €23,000.