The Libyan man undergoing trial on drug importation charges strongly denied that he never asked people to smuggle drugs into Malta.

Murad G M Erhuma, 26, took the witness stand yesterday. He is pleading not guilty to conspiring to traffic in cannabis resin and heroin and importing cannabis resin.

Two Libyan men were apprehended by the Customs at Malta International Airport one carrying three capsules of heroin in December 2003 and the other three bars of cannabis resin in 17 September 2004.

Erhuma said he was a businessman and used to visit Malta in order to supply Libyan pharmacies.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono heard the defendant recount how he had come to Malta on 17 September 2004 in order to check on the date of a hearing on a case he had instituted in Malta as two Libyans had stole $40,250 from him. He was a frequent visitor to Malta as he had visited the island 17 times in nine months prior to being arrested.

He had arrived in Malta on the same airplane as Magdi Ayad Bin Elkayal who was caught carrying cannabis resin. He described Elkayal as an acquaintance who he came to know three years prior to his arrest.

The defendant said Elkayal had hired a taxi and picked him at home on his way to the airport. He said he was only carrying a bag as he had a fractured hand and carried around $200 with him.

Erhuma denied he had given anything to Elkayal to carry as he trusted no one with his luggage.

He recounted how he passed the arrivals checks and picked up his bag after which he walked towards an exchange bureau. All of a sudden, he was apprehended by the police and was taken to a room where his luggage was checked and a strip search performed. He was told that Elkayal was carrying drugs and he gave him away.

At the Police Headquarters, the defendant said, he denied giving him drugs to carry for him and refused to admit even after the police encouraged him to help them in their investigations and was admitted to a cell.

On the following day he was confronted with Elkayal, who insisted that he had the received the cannabis resin bars from Erhuma. The defendant denied immediately and Elkayal lowered his head. Erhuma said he was convinced that Elkayal was trying to brush off his responsibilities and swore on the Koran that he ever imported or conspired to import drugs in Malta.

On confrontation, Elkayal reiterated his accusations, while the defendant reiterated his denials.

Earlier, Omar Mohamed Mehemud Erayani, testified that he had met the defendant in Malta when they were introduced by mutual friends. A month later in Tripoli, said Erayani, he was asked by the friends and the defendant to smuggle drugs to Malta against a payment of $1,000. The witness said he first resisted, however, his friends persisted and he obliged.

He was told by his friends to swallow three capsules, however, he concealed them in his socks. The witness was apprehended on arrival on 18 December 2003 and 38 grammes of heroin worth e6,988.12 (Lm3,000) were found in the capsules. Erayani said he was not aware which drug he was carrying.

Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara assisted by Dr Nadine Sant prosecuted while Dr Joe Mifsud appeared for the defendant.