Minor gets probation over mephedrone trafficking

A 17-year-old youth who admitted to trafficking mephedrone and to abusing drugs since the age of 13 has been placed under a probation order for three years after the court ruled that prison would render the accused’s reform “useless.”

The court heard that back on June 16 last year, the accused, whose name has been banned by court order, was arrested in Paceville on suspicion of drug trafficking.

A body search on the then-16-year-old yielded two sachets of mephedrone.

During his subsequent interrogation, the minor confessed to police that on that night, he had sold two sachets of mephedrone for €10 each. He also admitted to have taken one sachet of mephedrone himself.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras also heard that the accused had been abusing cannabis since the age of 13. Probation officer Mary Rose Farrugia testified that the youth’s drug problem was all down to bad company, and said that the accused only abused drugs due to peer pressure.

Moreover, the probation officer told the court, the youth had since his arrest learned his lesson and has reformed. Urine tests have also tested negative for any illegal substances.

The court noted that even though drug trafficking warrants a minimum six month imprisonment, prison would render the accused’s progress and reform “useless.”

Notwithstanding the law binding the courts to hand down a prison sentence, Magistrate Galea Sciberras ruled that the accused’s age, his clean criminal record, and cooperation with the police must mitigate his punishment.

Consequently, she placed the youth under a probation order for three years after finding him guilty of being in possession and of trafficking mephedrone on July 2013, and also fined him €115 for being in possession of cannabis grass and resin during the preceding months.

Inspector Johann Fenech prosecuted, lawyers Kris Busietta and Jason Azzopardi were defence counsel.