A 32-year-old man was jailed for a year and fined Lm400 after he was found guilty of trafficking cocaine and being in possession of cannabis more than two years ago.

Joseph Borg from Rabat, was found guilty of trafficking cocaine in February 2005 and during the previous months and being in possession of cannabis resin throughout the same year.

The court heard that during a search carried out at Mickey’s Bar in Rabat, the police had found that the owner, John Vella, had a sachet of cocaine hidden in his trousers. Afton Borda, whom the accused was said to be dating at the time, was also found to be in possession of another satchet.

When the police searched Borg’s car, a plastic sachet with traces of white dust was found. It was at this point that he admitted that the empty sachet belonged to him and that he had consumed the drugs some time before.

In a statement he had given to the police, the accused said that on that night, he had used two sachets himself, sold another two for Lm50 to someone whom he did not name and had given a sachet each to Ms Borda and a certain Sean Vella.

Borg had admitted to the police that he had been doing drugs for about three to four months and that he used to consume between three and four grammes of cocaine every week. He also used to do cannabis and had been selling cocaine for about a month or a month and a half.

Carmel Cremona, from Caritas, testified in court, saying that according to the organisation’s records, the accused was clean and had been attending drug rehabilitation sessions on a regular basis.

Testifying for a second time, Mr Cremona presented a certificate signed by outreach facilitator and psychotherapist Stephanie Manfre’ who confirmed the progress made by Borg.

The man’s mother, Lilian Borg, told the court that the family had been through a very bad time, but her son’s state of mind had improved at a certain point. He was on better terms with the family and he was even thinking of getting married.

The case was presided over by magistrate Lawrence Quintano. Police inspector Dennis Theuma prosecuted.