Wednesday, November 26, 2014
A Somali man who ignored his lawyer’s instructions and pleaded guilty to drug possession has lodged an immediate appeal after being jailed for a year.
Marsa resident Hassan Mohamed Abubaker, 37, appeared before Magistrate Carol Peralta charged with being in possession of 10 sachets of cannabis leaves in Triq San Gorg, St. Julians, less than 100m away from a school, club or place where youths congregate.
The drugs are alleged to have been found in circumstances that denote it was not for his personal use. The court noted that the accused was also a recidivist.
When asked by the magistrate as to his plea, the legal aid lawyer Anthony Cutajar tried to prompt the accused to plead not guilty, however the Abubakar pleaded guilty.
The Somali appeared not to have expected the sentence however and immediately lodging an appeal in open court.