A man was sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to bribe the police officers who arrested him with drugs in Marsa.[1] Abdoulie Sillah was charged by Inspector Ian Vella with attempting to bribe two police officers in Marsa on 6 June 2024, possessing drugs, committing the offence within 100 metres of a place where young people gather, and carrying a knife.[1] The court heard that he arrived in Malta by boat in 2019 as Abdoulie Sillah from The Gambia, while Maltese records identified him as Abdoulie Diakite from Mali.[1]
Police on patrol in Marsa were told that a hooded man outside a bar in Triq San Vinċenz was taking drugs out of his clothing to sell.[1] Sillah fled when officers tried to arrest him but was caught shortly afterwards, carrying six packets of cannabis, 27 packets of synthetic cannabis, cash and a knife.[1] While in the police car under arrest, he offered the officers €20,000 in exchange for his release.[1] The police sergeant and constable confirmed the offer, and bodycam footage corroborated their testimony.[1]
At his arraignment, he was accused of possessing about four grams of cannabis resin and about 10 grams of synthetic cannabis in circumstances showing the drugs were not for his personal use.[2] He pleaded not guilty.[2] He was remanded in custody.[2]
Magistrate Astrid May Grima found him guilty of attempting to bribe the police and of carrying a knife.[3] She did not find him guilty of drug possession because, although the drugs were shown in court, the forensic expert’s report on their analysis was not submitted.[1] For the same reason, she also acquitted him of possessing drugs within 100 metres of a place where young people gather.[1] She ordered that a copy of the judgment be sent to the Principal Immigration Officer for consideration of his deportation.[1]
