A former policeman is standing trial on charges of trafficking and possession of heroin, illegal possession of protected species and attempts to bribe an immigration officer.

Before Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, former police constable Jean Pierre Abdilla, 33, from Zurrieq, pleaded not guilty to the eight separate charges brought against him.

Lawyer Nadine Sant from the Attorney General’s Office said that although it happened in most organisations, the most deplorable fact was that the accused had, at the time of the crimes, been supposedly holding a position of trust as a police constable. He had gone against everything that his uniform stood for.

The accused is standing trial on three charges related to drug possession and plans to traffic up to a kilo of heroin, one related to attempts to bribe an immigration official and four charges of illegal possession of protected species.

Dr Sant said the accused had approached Josephine Tonna, an immigration official, on more than one occasion, asking her to turn a blind eye to the documents presented by those coming to Malta from North Africa, more specifically from Morocco.

His house was also found to contain a number of protected species, birds and even a snake, embalmed and in a chest freezer in the garage.

There were regulations governing such possession, said Dr Sant, as they had to be registered with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA). Fifty-five of these embalmed birds were registered with MEPA, but only 17 were found in the house.

The first to take the stand was Assistant Police Commissioner Neil Harrison, who explained that he had first heard of the case when an informant approached him, to say he had been approached by the accused, on the 22 February 2005, asking whether he knew of anyone wanting to purchase drugs.

The informant, who also testified yesterday and whose name cannot be published by court order, said he had been offered 500g of heroin at a price of Lm25 (e58.23) per gram. His initial reaction had been one of shock, he said, because he knew the accused was a police constable, and told him he would think about it.

Although he had told him he would get back to him, the informant then decided to call on Mr Harrison, who asked him if he would be prepared to make a statement. The decision was taken to let the informant go ahead, as if he intended to purchase the drugs, but to inform the police of every step that was taken.

The informant said he met with the accused a number of times, and said that the accused had given him his mobile number, in case he found interested buyers.

In the meantime, during a meeting on 24 February in Luqa, it transpired that the amount had increased to a kilo, but at the same price. The police were following all goings on and meetings closely, and shortly before the third meeting the accused was anonymously tipped off that he was under surveillance.

During the third meeting in Luqa the accused handed the promised sample, a gold package to the informant, which he passed on to the police for examination.

When it came down to it, those selling the drugs wanted to see the money before the exchange.

The police did not intend to let the Lm25,000 (e58,234) out of their sight, and demanded the drugs, but the sellers did not agree. The decision was that these terms were not acceptable or safe for their informant.

Former Police Commissioner Paul Debattista said that when it became apparent that the accused was not going to accept a direct exchange, for the informant’s safety they did not go ahead.

When it became apparent that the accused was not going to cooperate, the police decided to arrest him, which they did on 3 May 2005. In his first statement, the accused chose not to reply to any of the questions put to him by the police, except to categorically deny that he had ever taken any drugs, or given them to anyone else.

That same day he chose to resign, and was granted police bail. He was asked to return on 18 May, which he did. On 19 May in the morning the accused gave a second statement, repeating that he had never been involved in any drug trafficking.

The informant was initially brought in to testify that while he was outside the courtroom, he had been made to feel uncomfortable and threatened by the brother of the accused, Elton Abdilla.

He said Mr Abdilla gestured and threatened to decapitate him and pay him back.

A police officer drew the court’s attention to the fact that he had observed Mr Abdilla making various efforts to remain in a position to maintain eye contact with the witness, and even on his way to the bathroom, took a detour to pass from right in front of him.

Mr Justice Galea Debono said that prima facie it seemed Mr Abdilla had behaved in an intimidating manner towards the witness, and said he would not tolerate this kind of behaviour in the court. Mr Abdilla and the father of the accused were both ordered to leave the court room immediately.

The presiding judge issued an arrest warrant and asked Assistant Commissioner Harrison to investigate the matter.

Lawyers Edward Gatt and Anglu Farrugia are appearing for the accused.