Updated with clarification

The lawyer for a Sicilian youth accused of drug trafficking, told a court his client would have fared better had he been arrested in Iraq rather than Malta, after he was caught in possession of a cannabis joint.

Emanuele Giunta, 25, pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking 0.4 grammes of cannabis by sharing a joint with co-national Giuseppe Covato, 22. The latter pleaded guilty to charges of simple possession. "I came to Malta to try cannabis, but if I went to Iran I'd have felt better," Giunta was heard telling his defence lawyer.

The two men were fined €500. Giunta was handed a six-month sentence, suspended for three years.

Prosecuting inspector Johann Fenech told the court the two Sicilians, both of Modica, were appreheded by the police in Paceville last Saturday night. The officer stated that both men admitted to the charges and a prison term was definitely not the ideal conclusion of the case. The two men collaborated with the investigating officers but the person who allegedly sold them the drug was not apprehended.

Legal aid lawyer Joseph Ellis lashed out at current legislation on drug use, commenting that "every prime minister in Europe has admitted to smoking a joint at one time or another, however our legislation still embraces such draconian measures."

The charges against Giunta for trafficking 0.4g of cannabis carried a maximum €11,000 fine and a 10-year jail term. The defence counsel described such cases as a waste of police time and court resources and said that a change in legislation should be immediately sought.