The younger son of European Commissioner Helena Dalli was jailed three months after he was found guilty of trafficking ecstasy at a party in Paola in 2013.

Jean-Luc Dalli, 25, was caught handing over six ecstasy pills to another man outside a party venue at the old prisons in Corradino in September 2013.  

The court, presided by Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, heard how police officers stationed outside the premises saw the accused handing over a bag to another man.

A search was carried out. A man, Dwight Falzon, was found in possession of six blue pills in a paper bag. Gabrielle Tonna, who was with Dalli at the time, was found in possession of three blue pills. No drugs were found on the accused. 

Testifying, police sergeant Chris Baldacchino told the court he observed three youths arriving for the party and witnessed an exchange of a paper bag.

He told the court that one of them, who he later identified as Dalli, was seen holding what appeared to be a bag in his hand and he had seen him passing it to a person next to him, who he identified as Falzon. 

In its ruling, the court said that the testimony gives the court assurance that the six pills found in Falzon’s possession had been passed on to him by the accused. 

During questioning, Dalli had told the police that he had purchased the six pills for Falzon and admitted with the police to having bought the pills for €10 each. He said he had sold the drugs to Falzon for the same price he had bought them. 

In her considerations on punishment, the magistrate noted that that the accused had helped the police with their investigation. She also considered that Dalli had a clean criminal record and the amount of drugs involved.

She jailed Dalli for three months and fined him €650. She also ordered him to pay half the court expenses in connection with the case.