Vincent Cucciardi, 45 from Senglea admitted being in possession of heroin in Senglea on 9 December 2000. The court could not exercise any clemency since Cucciardi only registered an admission three years after he was originally charged in court.

Cucciardi had previously been found guilty of nine other crimes, including theft and causing serious injury. Although he had been given suspended sentences, fines and even an unconditional discharge the court, presided over by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, noted that he had not learnt from these experiences.

Therefore, the magistrate declared, the only adequate punishment for Cucciardi was a prison sentence. Inspector David Saliba prosecuted.