A man today was jailed for six years and six months after pleading guilty to being in possession of cannabis and cocaine, instead of opting for a lengthy trial by jury.
Aaron Scortino, 36, from Qormi, was arrested on 27 March and was arraigned two days later, where he immediately pleaded guilty. Police found a kilo of cannabis and a few grams of cocaine in his car after acting on a tip-off. He was jailed for 6-and-a-half years and fined €15,000 after reaching a plea bargain.
Mr Scortino was among the first to make use of the reavised blea bargaining system. Before, there would still have been a compilation of evidence against the accused, despite an initial guilty plea. This particular case would likely have stretched on for some three of four years.
Lawyers Franco Debono and Arthur Azzopardi appeared for the accused.