‘Trafficking by sharing’ earns man, 25, suspended sentence

An Egyptian man who admitted to having trafficked cocaine in 2013 has been handed a suspended sentence and a fine.

Egyptian Hussein Hamada, 25, who lives in Gozo, had been accused of trafficking cocaine and with being in possession of cocaine and cannabis in the months before April 2013, in Gozo.

Hamada was also accused of breaching bail and relapsing.

Prosecuting Inspector Frank Anthony Tabone had explained that the charge of cocaine trafficking actually referred to “trafficking by sharing”.

The accused had pleaded guilty to the drugs charges but had denied breaching bail or relapsing.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri, presiding the Court of Magistrates in Gozo, held that insufficient evidence had been exhibited to prove that he breached his bail conditions, but found Hamada guilty of the other five charges.

The court condemned the man to a year's imprisonment, suspended for two years and fined him €1,000. Lawyers Franco Debono, Angie Muscat and Joseph Grech were defence counsel to the accused.