A magistrates' court jailed a 25-year-old man for 26 months and fined e1,863 after he was found guilty of trafficking and possession of heroin in circumstances that were not for his own personal use.

Aaron Axisa, from Zejtun, pleaded guilty, before presiding magistrate Lawrence Quintano to the charges of heroin trafficking and possession of heroin in circumstances that were not for his own personal use on 8 August 2006.

He also pleaded guilty to being in possession of a flick knife without a police licence and breaching the conditions of an operative sentence.

The court heard how, on 8 August 2006, Axisa was seen making contact with other people.

When he came out of a snack bar in Gudja, he was searched by the police who found a silver metal container with about 10 grams of heroin, along with a flick knife. The police also found a number of pen and flick knives.

In his testimony, Axisa said that he had just bought around 10 grams of heroin and had a drug problem. He also claimed that he bought the drug for himself and used to consume around five grams a day.

In handing down his judgment, magistrate Quintano noted that Axisa committed the crime while he was under a probation order.

As a result, magistrate Quintano jailed Axisa for 26 months and fined him e1,863/Lm800.

The court also ordered Axisa to pay e363/Lm156 in court expenses.

Police Inspector Dennis Theuma prosecuted.