A woman who was cleared of drug trafficking but found guilty of drug possession in September 1998 has been fined Lm200.

Christine Spiteri, 42, of Gzira was originally charged with trafficking in heroin, possessing the drug and relapsing on and before 23 September 1998.

The court, presided over by magistrate Lawrence Quintano, heard how on the day in question, the police conducted a search of the apartment in Gzira in which the woman lived, where they found several syringes, tissues and pieces of paper.

In her statement to the police, the woman admitted that she was a heroin addict but said had stopped taking drugs when she realised that she was pregnant. She had also started a drug rehabilitation programme.

Magistrate Quintano ruled that the prosecution had not

managed to prove that Spiteri was trafficking in heroin and so cleared her of this charge. However, he found her guilty of heroin possession because she had admitted that she was on the drug before finding out she was pregnant.

Police Inspector Abraham Zammit prosecuted while Dr Joseph Giglio appeared for Spiteri.