Pensioner cleared of drug-trafficking conspiracy charges after 19 years
A court has cleared a 70-year old pensioner of charges of conspiracy in drug-trafficking 19 years ago after finding no proof to back the prosecution’s case.
Angelo Zahra was arrested in July 2001 while meeting another man at a Golden Bay restaurant.
The two had been targeted in a police surveillance operation linked to intelligence about an alleged plot involving seven players who were supposedly planning to smuggle 3 kilos of cocaine to Malta from Sicily.
A speed boat trip to Sicily and back was allegedly the means whereby the drug and cash were to be exchanged.
A personal search of Zahra had yielded two keys, one of which matched a Seat Terra van parked opposite the restaurant.
Bag in man's van contained €72,772
Inside that van was a plastic bag containing some Lm31,640 (€72,772) in cash and a bank cheque for Lm307.18 (€706 approx).
A third suspect was also arrested after being intercepted by a police car while speeding away from the Ghajn Tuffieha area, heading towards Mgarr.
Yet, in the course of proceedings against Zahra, other alleged co-conspirators testified, saying that they had never met the accused prior to the court case, nor had any idea of his alleged role in...