Minister for Justice Owen Bonnici has called the sentence given today to reformed drug trafficker William Agius a 'sensible one'.
Agius, a reformed drug trafficker who quit drugs more than a decade ago, was today jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty to a crime he committed 14 years ago. He was also ordered to pay a fine of €3000.
Answering a question in parliament this evening, the Justice Minister said that he is informed that a drug seizure of 2000 pills of ecstasy usually results in a prison sentence of between nine to 12 years. He highlighted that loosening of the drug law in 2015 does not apply to drug seizures in proportions such as this one.
"Today's sentence is a sensible sentence," he said. "Instead of that penalty, he got a penalty which is the mildest penalty given in such a situation."
"I am happy that the court understands that those who are victims of drugs should be treated as people who we need to help, and doing otherwise could be counter-productive."
William Agius was 18 years and battling a drug addiction when he was caught red handed in the middle of a drug deal near the Qormi primary school in 2004.