Trial update | Accused insists he ‘helped’ victims, never dealt drugs

An emotional Norman Bezzina took the witness stand and insisted that he never dealt in drugs, adding that he “helped and cured many people from the terrible problem.”

Bezzina, 55 from Zebbug faces 30 years in prison if found guilty of charges of conspiracy to import and traffic 2.2 kilos of cocaine in 2001.

According to Bezzina, many of those he helped, moved on to become care workers who were then engaged by social agency ‘Sedqa’,‘Santa Marija Hospital’, ‘Dar il-Wens’, and the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC).

Bezzina, a one time migrant to Canada and who once served in former Minister Louis Galea’s secretariat, told jurors that the main prosecution witness, Simon Xuereb, had lied about him as being the mastermind behind the importantion of 2.2 kilos of drugs by post from Canada.

He stressed that Xuereb wanted to get back at him for not having assisted his father who was known as ‘Lippu l-Boxer,’ who put pressure on him during his time in Minister Galea’s secretariat to obtain permits to develop land and also a permit for a Kiosk in Sliema. These permits were never issued.

Bezzina stressed that Simon Xuereb had deliberately involved him in something he never knew about, and denied ever knowing that the package contained drugs.

The trial resumes this morning, when defence counsels Manwel Mallia and Arthur Arthur Azzopardi address the jurors.

Judge Michael Mallia is presiding.