Foreigner jailed for 40 months, fined €2,000, over drug possession and trafficking

A foreigner was yesterday jailed for a total of 40 months over drug charges.

Ayman Abul-Ez Mohammed Hanafwa admitted to being in possession of ecstasy and cannabis resin in circumstances denoting that the drug was not intended for personal use. He also admitted being in possession of cannabis plants and trafficking in the same drug.

Mr Hanafwa told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja he was a drug addict who needed help. He said he should not be jailed in view of his admission.

The court said that, in view of his admission, and the fact that he was already serving a suspended sentence, it had no option but to find the accused guilty.

The court said it had thought long and hard about the sentence that should be inflicted. It told the accused it had already given him the chance to change his ways by giving him a suspended sentence. But a little over six months later he was caught committing new crimes. It was clear that the accused had missed a golden opportunity to reform himself and could not now expect to be given another chance. He had been warned that, should he commit a crime while serving a suspended sentence he would be jailed for both offences.

Just because drug laws had been relaxed, the accused could not expect the court to declare that he had done nothing wrong. These amendments to the law did not lead to a situation where everything goes, without consequences. The court also stated that the accused now lived in Malta and had to abide by the laws of the country.

For the crimes committed, Mr Hanafwa was jailed for 16 months and fined €2,000. The two-year suspended sentence also became effective, which means that the man has been jailed for a total of 40 months.

Inspector Jonathan Cassar prosecuted.