Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1499951
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 MAY 2023 4 NEWS MAT THEW AGIUS TWO men, both with a history of co- caine trafficking charges, are once again facing charges in connection with the discovery of some 5kg of cocaine in a drug bust in Attard on Monday. 53 year-old Agostino Agius and Dar- ren Desira, 47, were arraigned under arrest before magistrate Astrid May Grima on Tuesday afternoon, charged with possession of cocaine in circum- stances denoting it was not solely for their personal use and trafficking the drug. Agius alone was further charged with breaching bail conditions handed to him in 2016, while Desira was addition- ally charged with recidivism, the charg- es citing several previous convictions - all of which seem to have been removed from the courts' online repository of judgments. Desira is a convicted cocaine traffick- er who had been at the centre of a brib- ery case involving a judge who jailed him for 18 years in 2012 for trafficking cocaine. Agius had been charged with cocaine trafficking and weapons offences in 2016 and had been released on bail in the interim period. Police Inspector Marshal Mallia, prosecuting together with Inspector Alfredo Agius, told the court how the drugs squad had received confidential information yesterday, indicating that the two men would be involved in a drug deal. Police obtained an arrest warrant and intercepted Desira while he was leaving the block of flats in Attard where Agius resided. Desira was found to be carrying a pa- per bag full of cocaine sachets weighing over 1 kg in total. The police had then entered the resi- dence and arrested Agius, finding dig- ital scales and vacuum sealed packets of cocaine in his kitchen, amounting to around 4kg in total. Two suitcases were also found, one of which was open and had a false bottom which was torn open. Traces of drugs were found inside it, the court was told. Agius, who told the court he worked part time, pleaded not guilty. Desira, who said he was a driver, also denied the charges. Neither of the men re- quested bail at this stage. The prosecution requested a freezing order, which the defence objected to. The court upheld the request and imposed freezing orders on both men, preventing them from transferring or disposing of all monies or property be- longing to the defendants, except €600 which they can withdraw every 15 days. Agius was assisted by lawyers Franco Debono and Matthew Xuereb. Lawyers Giannella De Marco and Francois Dalli assisted Desira. Darren Desira and Agostino Agius charged with trafficking after 5kg cocaine bust Police received confidential information indicating the two men were involved in a drug deal before raiding an apartment where Agostino Agius resided CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "Since the alleged motive for the crime is the subject under discussion in this committee, we consulted Erskine May, which says 'committees have suspended inquiries in pro- gress because witnesses have been charged with crimes con- nected to the subject matter under inquiry…'" Mercieca said the committee should suspend Fenech's testi- mony, pending the outcome of the criminal case against him. At one point, Fenech moved to pass a comment to chairman Darren Carabott, who called him to attention that he could not speak before taking an oath. "He is fighting for his life in court," Mercieca told Car- abott, saying that was the fo- rum in which Fenech should be made to speak. After a 10-minute recess, Mercieca verbalised his re- quest for the hearing to be suspended, citing the Erskine May, as well as the Speaker's rulings of 25 November, 2019, 26 November 2019, and 16 June, 2020. Mercieca said the compi- lation of evidence against Fenech had already indicated that matters related to Electro- gas contract will form part of the criminal trial against him. Mercieca however said that Yorgen Fenech wanted to tes- tify before the committee only after the criminal proceedings against him are concluded. Effectively the PAC hearings on the Electrogas contract will continue until after a criminal court concludes proceedings in the charges against Fenech. Carabott said in a parting shot that it was something "exceptional" that the use of Maltese taxpayers' money was now the subject of a criminal case in the court of law. La- bour MPs replied wryly to his observation. "I trust this com- mittee will not be turned into some political football," Andy Ellul said. PAC agrees to hear Fenech only after criminal proceedings against him are concluded