A 26-year-old man from Siggiewi was fined Lm250 yesterday after he was found guilty of possessing cannabis but was cleared of trafficking the same drug.

Trevor Vassallo was originally charged with trafficking 28 grammes of cannabis and possessing the same drug.

The court heard how Vassallo was stopped by police in February 2001 and found to be in possession of cannabis. Although Vassallo admitted that the cannabis was his, he always denied trafficking the drug.

The court, presided over by magistrate Lawrence Quintano, ruled that doubts existed over whether the accused was trafficking cannabis, and these doubts had to favour the accused.

The court therefore fined Vassallo Lm250 after it declared him guilty of possessing cannabis.

Police Inspector Nadia Lanzon prosecuted while Dr Franco Debono appeared for the accused.