A 27-year-old man was jailed for a year and fined €500 after pleading guilty to possessing and dealing in cocaine.

Malcolm Mallia, from Gzira, was charged yesterday before magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna with dealing in cocaine and possessing the drug in circumstances denoting it was not for his exclusive use on and before Friday.

The court heard how Mallia had a clean police record, bar a number of traffic offences. He also admitted immediately ownership of 8.5 grammes of cocaine and cooperated with the police. Police Inspector Jesmond Borg from the Anti-Drug Squad prosecuted while Dr Kris Balzan was legal counsel.