Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543413
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 FEBRUARY 2026 NEWS Austin Mallia argues against life sentence as court decides on punishment FINAL submissions have been put forward in the case against Austin Mallia, whose defence team argued against a life sen- tence in court on Tuesday. Last week, Mallia was found guilty by a jury of aggravated cannabis possession and associ- ation for the purpose of traffick- ing. Mallia had also admitted to the possession of cocaine after jurors were selected. On Tuesday, the defence and prosecution delivered their final submissions ahead of the court's final sentence on his case. Due to the nature of the charges, Mallia is facing a potential life sentence. During proceedings, reference was made again to a Facebook post published by Isabel Mallia, the sister of the accused. The post, which has since been de- leted, reportedly expressed dis- appointment in the court and the Maltese judicial system, ac- cusing the prosecution of cor- ruption and attempting to ma- nipulate jurors. The allegations were described in court as "very serious". Investigations were launched into the matter and she was interrogated under cau- tion in connection with the post. During submissions on punish- ment, defence lawyer Joe Giglio argued that Austin Mallia's role should not be equated with that of the other accused, Lo Presti and Artale. Giglio pointed out that telephone records show fre- quent communication between Lo Presti and Artale. He argued that Mallia's involvement was significantly lesser and that he had effectively been "used" by the others. Giglio also stressed that the erdict was unanimous, Mallia has a completely clean criminal record and has worked his en- tire life as a chef. On this basis, he submitted that Mallia does not merit a life sentence. The defence also referred to a judg- ment delivered on in a separate case in 2016, where the punish- ment imposed was a 12-years prison term. However, prosecutor Godwin Cini argued that the case in question involved an admission, unlike this one. The prosecution emphasised that 50.7 kilograms of cannabis were intended to be trafficked into Malta. Had the police drug squad not in- tervened, a substantial quantity of cannabis would have entered the local market. The prose- cution maintained that the ac- cused formed part of an associ- ation of persons acting together to traffic drugs into Malta. Reference was made to estab- lished case law, including an English judgment, emphasis- ing that the quantity of drugs is significant not only in itself but also because of the number of people who may be harmed. The court was reminded that drug trafficking has the potential to cause addiction, misery, further crime, and additional victims. The prosecution urged the court to impose a sentence that would send a strong message to drug traffickers and serve as an effective deterrent. The defence replied that one shouldn't be penalised just be- cause one did not admit to the charges. The sentence is expected to be delivered on Thursday. Mallia first came into contact with a group allegedly planning to import cannabis into Malta around eight years ago. Police surveillance had initial- ly focused on Michele Artale, who had arrived in Malta by catamaran and went straight to a residence in Ħamrun. The following day, officers observed another man, later identified as Mallia, arriving by car and en- tering the same premises. The prosecution alleged that the plan was for Mallia and Ar- tale to meet a third man, Sandro Lo Presti, and transport the can- nabis in Mallia's van. Prosecutors alleged that Artale instructed Mallia to wait at the Boċċi Club car park in Lija be- fore directing him to meet San- dro Lo Prest at a logistics ware- house in Ta' Qali. The police followed Mallia all the way to Ta' Qali, where he entered the yard and drove out once again with a box stowed on the van. Subsequent security camera footage showed Mallia and Lo Prest unloading two boxes into Lo Prest's vehicle before leaving the premises and returning to Hamrun. Police officers intervened just as the two men were unloading the packages containing white goods and proceeded to search the Ħamrun apartment. Search- es revealed that the boxes be- ing unloaded contained several packages containing what ap- peared to be cannabis grass. A court-appointed expert con- firmed the substance to be can- nabis, weighing 50.7kg with a purity level of around 11%, val- ued at over €500,000. The prosecution was led by Godwin Cini, Kevin Valletta and Danika Vella on behalf of the Attorney General. Mallia was represented by lawyers Joe Giglio and Mattea Giglio. Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera presided over the trial. MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt Appeal dismissed in camping shop compensation case over construction works THE Court of Appeal has up- held a ruling rejecting claims that nearby construction works forced a Birkirkara camping store to shut down, finding the business had already relocated before the works began. On 27 August 2020, Silvio Abela filed a lawsuit against Paul Aquilina, claiming that construction works carried out between September 2019 and June 2020 on the floor above his store had caused his business, Adventure Camping Shop Lim- ited, to suffer financial losses. Abela argued that the defend- ants had failed to carry out a risk assessment before com- mencing works and that the safety measures implemented on site were insufficient. He claimed that construction ma- terials and equipment were left in front of the shop, allegedly creating a hostile environment for customers. According to the plaintiff, trucks required for the works were frequently parked in front of the premises, preventing the shop from operating. He maintained that the business was forced to close temporarily from September 2019 until June 2020 while the works were on- going. Abela also alleged that con- struction continued despite requests for compensation for environmental damage caused by the works. In their statement of defence filed on 20 October 2020, the defendants rejected the claims. They argued that the Adven- ture Camping Shop on Triq Dun Karm, Birkirkara, had been closed since 10 December 2018, and that the business had relo- cated to Triq Giovanni Papaffy, on the opposite side of the road. A sign had been placed at the original premises informing customers of the move. The court heard that Abela did not initially disclose this relocation and only admitted it after it emerged during Aquili- na's testimony. In his original evidence, Abela had not men- tioned refurbishment works to the old premises or the opening of the new store. The defence further submit- ted that the business had been poorly managed and had re- ceived an eviction notice on 8 May 2019. They argued that any losses suffered were self-in- flicted, as the shop had ceased operating at the original site in 2018, well before construction works began. The defendants denied ob- structing access to the prem- ises. They maintained that no equipment blocked the pave- ment and that works were car- ried out during limited hours. Two supporting columns had been erected on either side of the entrance to create a balcony that offered protection to the shop's doorway. They argued that, had the store been open, customers would still have had access. The court also heard that the works were conducted under the supervision of an architect and a health and safety officer, and that permission from the local council had been obtained whenever trucks were required on site. Moreover, the defendants stated that their works had been completed by February 2020, not June 2020 as alleged. Any works carried out after Febru- ary 2020 were not undertaken by them. The court also noted that be- tween March and June 2020, businesses were required to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if the works had contin- ued until June, this would not have affected trading during that period. On 4 June 2025, Abela ap- pealed the first court's deci- sion dismissing his claims. The Court of Appeal found no basis to criticise the lower court's as- sessment and upheld the orig- inal judgment, dismissing the appeal. MICHELA CASOLANI mcasolani@mediatoday.com.mt