Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1048856
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 NOVEMBER 2018 5 NEWS The Victorian building dates back to 1865. The front part of the site over- looking Rudolph street is proposed for Grade 2 scheduling. Originally the structure was built as a Villa for an 18th century Maltese nobleman and was subsequently used as the Hunt- ing Lodge for the British Governors before its transformation into a hotel. MATTHEW AGIUS A former director of Mal- tacom has had his punish- ment for aggravated drug possession reduced on ap- peal, in view of the assis- tance he gave the police. In 2014, Richard Attard, then 61, had been sen- tenced to two and a half years in prison and fined €5,000 after police found 166 grams of cocaine and 400 ecstasy pills in his house, car and garage. Attard had filed an ap- peal, through lawyer Joe Giglio, who had argued that despite being aware of the accused's mental health issues, his clean criminal conduct and a social in- quiry report, the first court had not factored these in when considering its sen- tence. The lawyer argued that the accused had given the authorities a lot of informa- tion and leads that would help the police disrupt a drug dealing operation. This merited a reduc- tion in punishment by two grades, the Court of Crimi- nal Appeal presided by Judge Antonio Mizzi said. Another factor ignored by the first court had been the fact that the accused was actively helping the police even before releasing his statement, said the court. The accused was using drugs due to a plethora of personal problems, ob- served the judge, noting that today he was in a "com- pletely different place in his life", although still under the cloud of the pending appeal. "It is clear that the ap- pellant ought to be given a window of opportunity," the court said, adding it was of the opinion that the punishment should be re- formed. For this reason, it con- firmed the sentence in the merits and revoked the punishment, replacing it with six months imprison- ment and a fine of €2,000. He was also ordered to suf- fer the costs of appointing experts, some €1,541. Former Maltacom director's drug sentence slashed on appeal Judge Antonio Mizzi said that the first court had ignored the fact that the accused provided the police with crucial information in their investigation of drug related crimes