Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1510271
15 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 OCTOBER 2023 NEWS THE Convenience Shop, a lead- ing name in the local conveni- ence sector, has sponsored and actively participated in the Cari- tas Run For Life, a community event aimed at promoting health and well-being across all ages. The Caritas Run For Life, held last Sunday morning, commenced from the San Blas Therapeutic Centre in Ħaż-Żebbuġ. The event, which attracted over 800 participants, featured various race catego- ries, including a 10 km race, a 5 km race, a 2.5 km walk, a 1 km race for children aged 6 to 9 years, and a 2.5 km race for children aged 10 to 13 years. This event not only encour- aged physical activity but also brought the community to- gether for a noble cause. As the main sponsor, The Convenience Shop has whole- heartedly supported the Cari- tas Run For Life. Additionally, several employees, along with their families and relatives, actively participated in this enriching experience. In to- tal, there were 10 runners and 29 walkers - employees of The Convenience Shop and their families who took part in this sports event. Furthermore, The Convenience Shop encouraged patrons from its 89 outlets spread across 50 locations to join in the physical activities of the Caritas Run For Life. To facilitate this, the company provided transportation for its staff, their relatives, and par- ticipating patrons, reinforcing its commitment to community engagement. Andrew Attard, Executive Assistant to the Directors at The Convenience Shop, stat- ed, "Events such as the Caritas Run For Life are close to our company's heart because they provide invaluable benefits to the Maltese community. We believe in the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle while also coming together as a community to support mean- ingful causes." Anthony Gatt, Director of Caritas Malta, expressed grat- itude, saying, "We extend our heartfelt thanks to The Con- venience Shop for their unwa- vering support of the Caritas Run For Life. Their generous donation and active partici- pation have significantly con- tributed to the success of this event, furthering our mission to assist those in need within our community." The Convenience Shop is proud to be part of initiatives like the Caritas Run For Life that promote the well-being and unity of the Maltese com- munity. This partnership reflects the company's ongoing com- mitment to making a positive impact in the communities it serves. The Convenience Shop sponsors Caritas Run For Life Man denied bail after alleged importation of cannabis resin as police search for accomplice MATTHEW AGIUS POLICE have told a court that they are searching for the presumed accomplice of a man who was charged with import- ing cannabis resin through the mail this afternoon. David Jimenez Madrigal, 22, from Spain was arraigned under arrest before magis- trate Lara Lanfranco, accused of import- ing the still-illegal form of cannabis. Police Inspector Marshal Mallia ex- plained how, on September 19, customs officers at the UPS offices in Luqa had discovered a package addressed to a "Spanish-sounding" recipient at a Sliema property. The package was found to contain a Lu- do box, inside which approximately 400g of cannabis resin was concealed. Preliminary police investigations re- vealed that the name on the package was false and the address specified was unin- habited. Madrigal was arrested yesterday when he had gone to collect the package from Luqa, after specifying its tracking num- ber. UPS staff contacted the police, who then moved in to arrest the suspect. When asked by the court registrar to give the address of his current place of residence, the 22-year-old defendant reached into his pocket and retrieved a crumpled piece of paper. "Old College Street, Sliema," he said, without provid- ing a residence name or door number. Asked what he did for a living, Madri- gal gave another vague reply - "at a family business in Spain." Lawyer Franco Debono, defence counsel together with lawyer Francesca Zarb, told the court that his client would be plead- ing not guilty. Bail was requested. The prosecution objected to the request for the man's release from arrest bail, In- spector Mallia arguing that "everything indicates the drugs aren't for his person- al use." Madrigal did not cooperate with police, and had in fact initially given false address information. The occupant of the first address specified by the defendant did not know him and after taking the police to a second block of flats, Madrigal was unable to tell the police which apart- ment he lived in. He later told the police that he didn't have a fixed address in Malta, and would sleep at his friends' houses. "Besides lying, when faced with the rea- son for his arrest, he initially denied hav- ing gone to pick up the package," said the inspector. A second man was still being sought by the police in connection with the impor- tation of the drugs. Making submissions on bail, lawyer Franco Debono stressed the presumption of innocence, telling the court that the address issue was "a misunderstanding," and insisting that his client had provided the police with an address. The lawyer observed that after an inor- dinately long wait, cannabis associations had finally been officially set up today. He remarked that the situation was iron- ic, saying that the State had "put the cart before the horse and instead of first leg- islating about where to legally acquire the drug, it legalised the possession of a substance which cannot be legally pur- chased." In his submissions on bail, Inspector Mallia pointed out that the defendant had only given a street name, and had not specified a residence. "Furthermore, this case deals with can- nabis resin, which has remained illegal across the board," said the inspector. "It is only cannabis plants that have been le- galised." After taking note of the uncertainty surrounding his address, his lack of ties to Malta and the risk of him absconding, Magistrate Lanfranco denied bail. A freezing order was issued over all of the man's assets, as is required in drug trafficking cases.