A 50-year-old bar owner has been jailed for 14-months and fined €1,000 for trafficking drugs in his Ħamrun bar.

Gerald Cauchi was found in possession of 6.61 grammes of heroin back in January 2010 which he claimed was for personal use.

He was also found to be in possession of cannabis seeds, which he claimed to be food for his pet finches.

He did however admit to selling the odd packet in the Ħamrun square for €10 in order to sustain his habit.

He told the police that he takes three to four grammes of heroin daily at home.

Cauchi was seen discarding the drugs when the police entered the Ħamrun bar.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras questioned why the man felt the need to divide the heroin into 16 bags if it was meant for personal consumption.

Police found electronic weighing scales at Cauchi's home, which he said were bought from Oxford Street.

He denied having bought the scales in order to weigh his drugs.

In handing down sentence, the Magistrate took Cauchi's previous criminal convictions, which include theft and simple.

Apart from the €1,000 fine, he was made to pay all the expenses related to the appointment of court experts.

Inspector Johann J. Fenech prosecuted.