Two acquitted of drug trafficking charges after witness evidence found 'inconsistent'

The two acquitted are Glenn Andrew Gorman, aged 38 from London, and Anthony Paul Portelli, aged 40 from Sliema.

Star witness, Jeffrey Savage, aged 29 from Pembroke, was sentenced to a five-year prison sentence for drug trafficking while the two men, found guilty for drug possession, were freed on condition that they do not commit another crime for the next three years.

Savage was also fined €5,000 after being found guilty a few weeks ago of association, possession, and  trafficking in ecstasy.

The case itself took place on 28 January, 2003, when it police were informed that a drug agreement involving Savage was going to be made at the Radisson Hotel, St Julian’s.

Assistant Police Commissioner Neil Harrison went on site, along with various officers from the drug squad, and arrested Savage as the latter had been waiting around the hotel parking area, speaking to someone on the phone, and entered into the hotel’s reception area.

Upon searching Savage, police found an envelope containing 595 pills – suspected of being ecstasy. Savage was escorted to his residence in Pembroke, where subsequent searches uncovered more envelopes.

Savage also divulged that the agreement he had with a man who wanted to buy 600 ecstasy pills, whom he had to call the next day. Savage however denied that he ever used or is dependent upon drugs, denying also that he ever sold drugs or cocaine.

Asked why he was trafficking drugs at the time, Savage said he was going through a hard patch and he needed money quickly.

While Gorman admitted that he consumed marijuana, he affirmed that he planned to meet with Jeffrey Savage only for lunch that day. Portelli on the other hand said that Savage had phoned him a few hours before they were all arrested and requested he inform Gorman to take some “puff” to Magic Kiosk as he had a friend there interested in buying some.

The court determined that Savage’s testimony was not credible and as a result, was not an accurate depiction of the facts. On the other hand, it determined that the testimony given by the accused was credible.

Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Chris Grima appeared for their defence.