A 31-year-old man was jailed for 10 months after he was found guilty of trafficking cannabis out of the Gżira pastizzeria he was working in eight years ago.

The case dates back to 27 October, 2007, when the police were keeping the Sphynx Pastizzeria under observation due to a suspected trade in illicit drugs.

A 'customer', a certain Godwin Galea, was searched as soon as he left the shop, and a small piece of cannabis resin was found hidden in a cigarette pack.

The police then entered the shop, which was being run by the defendant, Matthew Mifsud. Mr Mifsud was himself found to be in possession of cannabis resin and eight hits of LSD, and cannabis grass and amphetamine powder was later found in his Ħamrun home.

Mr Mifsud was thus charged with trafficking cannabis resin and the aggravated possession of the drug, as well as the simple possession of cannabis grass, LSD and amphetamines.

Mr Galea spoke to the police that same day, telling them that he had gone to buy a piece of cannabis resin from "Matthew tal-pastizzi" for Lm10. He said that he had been buying cannabis resin from Mr Mifsud since the previous August, one Lm10 piece at a time. Mr Mifsud's mobile number was stored in his own phone under the name "Matthew Pastizzi."

He made similar claims to the inquiring magistrate, but was less forthcoming with details when he testified in court, stating that he could not remember the name of the person who sold him drugs or the name of the pastizzeria, and that he could not even recognise the accused. However, excerpts from his statement to the police were then read out to him, prompting him to state that he forgot some details with the passage of time.

Mr Galea also failed to recognise Mr Mifsud on his second appearance in court, even stating that he did not think he had ever seen him before. He claimed that he had a drinking problem until recently, and that he forgot a lot of things as a result.

When he was questioned by the police, Mr Mifsud refused to answer any question, save for confirming that he worked, and chose not to testify in court.

Ultimately, Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras ruled that while Mr Galea's testimony in court could not be deemed credible, the statements he made to the police and to the inquiring magistrates could be.

She highlighted that there was evidence that the two men knew each other relatively well, including an SMS Mr Galea had sent to Mr Mifsud on his birthday, days before their arrest.

The magistrate observed that Mr Galea found it convenient to remember a lot of details about the case, save for any which would implicate the defendant, and similarly convenient to bring up a drinking problem on his second appearance in court.

Consequently, Mr Mifsud was found guilty of all the charges filed against him, and he was jailed for 10 months and fined €950.

Inspector Victor Aquilina prosecuted.