So it turns out Franco Debono was one of the lawyers in the notorious Dalli soap-trafficking case

Fihom bozza tal-elf ukoll, dawn il-kriminali Maltin

I’m not passing judgement. Kullhadd irid jiekol u kullhadd ghandu dritt ghal avukat of his choice.

But to expect to be made justice minister when you’re involved through your daily work with these sorts of people and situations? I don’t think so.

It would be undemocratic. And as Franco told us, democracy is even more important than the economy.

But then I’m not surprised Franco expects to be made justice minister despite doing this for a living. The soap-trafficking mastermind’s brother fully expects to be made prime minister.

And we thought Sicily had problems.

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The Malta Independent

14 January 2009

What was thought to be the last great drugs haul of the year was yesterday confirmed to be nothing but 30 kilogrammes of common soap stored in three cardboard boxes.

Rupert Busuttil, 34, from Marsa, Carmelo Borg, 31, from St Paul’s Bay, Marvin Debono, 22, from Mtarfa, and Paul Azzopardi, 39, from Valletta are being charged with conspiring to deal in 30 kilogrammes of cannabis which was imported from Libya on a sailing boat called Jolly Roger.

Mr Borg and Mr Azzopardi were accused of leaving for Libya together with a Libyan national on the Jolly Roger on 23 December and returning on 27 December without notifying the authorities.

Mr Busuttil alone was charged with driving recklessly and, together with Mr Borg, he was charged with failing to obey police orders. Mr Debono alone was charged with relapsing.

Testifying in court yesterday, pharmacist Godwin Sammut said the green substance he tested was not prohibited by law. Thus he confirmed rumours that the four men were tricked by their suppliers in Libya into believing they were importing cannabis resin while in effect they were transporting soap, a clean substance by law.

Ironically, nine ounce bars of cannabis resin are referred to on the street as “soap”.

Although the defendants were not involved in the transportation of illicit substances, the Maltese law stipulates that the mere intention of conspiring to deal in illegal substances constitutes a crime.

The proceedings, presided over by magistrate Miriam Hayman, have been carried out behind closed doors; yesterday was the first time during the compilation of evidence that the media and the public were allowed in the court room.

The Jolly Roger was intercepted by the police after they were tipped off that a sailing boat was scheduled to arrive in the Mtahleb area, limits of Rabat, on 27 December.

The Armed Forces of Malta’s Maritime Squadron and Air Wings section went to the area known as Migra l-Ferha at about 7.45pm on 27 December off the coast of Migra l-Ferha and witnessed a man leaving the yacht and approaching the land in a dinghy with three large packages.

A few minutes later, the police intercepted three people travelling in two vehicles, one of which was carrying the packages, while the two other people who were on the dinghy and the yacht were also arrested.

Police inspectors Norbert Ciappara, Jesmond J. Borg and Johann J. Fenech prosecuted. Dr Charmaine Cherrett and Dr Franco Debono appeared for Mr Azzopardi while Dr Giannella Caruana Curran, Dr Manuel Mallia and Dr Arthur Azzopardi represented the other defendants.

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I suppose we should be glad that Franco Debono chases court reporters to make sure they include his name in their reports.