Joseph Calleja, 30, and his brother Noel, 28 and Doreen Bugeja, 33, all from Santa Venera were charged with heroin possession and trafficking

Joseph Calleja, 30, and his brother Noel, 28 and Doreen Bugeja, 33, all from Santa Venera were charged with heroin possession and trafficking on 6 May and before. The drugs were found after a raid by the Police Drug Squad. A total of 35 grammes of heroin and 10 grammes of cocaine were seized.Doreen Bugeja pleaded not guilty to heroin trafficking, but admitted to charges of simple possession. She was also accused of relapsing in view of previous convictions. The court, presided over by Magistrate Doreen Clarke refused a bail application, but recommended that the Corradino Correctional Facility Director to allow the accused to enrol in a drug rehabilitation programme. The court will pass sentence on 16 May.Joseph Calleja pleaded guilty to heroin possession and trafficking as well as relapsing in view of previous convictions. The court will pass sentence with regard to this case also on 16 May.The younger of the brothers, Noel, pleaded not guilty to charges of heroin and cocaine possession and trafficking. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting a number of police officers, relapsing in view of previous convictions as well as committing a crime while under the operative period of a suspended prison sentence.
Police Inspector Jesmond Borg prosecuted while Dr Mark Busuttil and Dr Stephen Tonna Lowell appeared for the accused.