An Ethiopian in Malta jailed for 10 months

An Ethiopian resident of the Marsa Open Centre was jailed for 10 months yesterday after he was found guilty of trafficking in and possessing cannabis resin and escaping from custody.

The court, presided over by magistrate Lawrence Quintano, heard how 25-year-old Yassin Mohammed was apprehended after police on patrol saw him throw an object from the car on which he was a passenger on 20 July in Paceville. The car driver also threw something out of the window.

The police later found cannabis resin, some joints and E200. The car driver had told the police that he threw away the joint Mohammed had given him.

The court said it was convinced that Mohammed dealt in drugs and, given the small amount of drugs found, it jailed him for 10 months and fined him E500.

Police Inspector Stephen J. Gatt prosecuted while Dr Mark Busuttil was defence counsel.

The Independent
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