A man allegedly involved in the importation of a large quantity of cocaine has been awaiting trial since 2002, official figures show.

He is one of 71 defendants currently on the trial by jury waiting list. Although most of them have been granted bail, legal experts believe that waiting for so long for the conclusion of one’s criminal process is “torture”.

“It’s true, you’re out and about, but the fact that one day you might find yourself in jail is always there at the back of your mind, so you’re not really living,” one source in the legal field said.

The Sunday Times of Malta ob-tained a list of pending trials by jury, with details of when the alleged crimes took place and the date that the Attorney General’s office issued the bill of indictment.

The fact that one day you might find yourself in jail is there, so you’re not really living

Almost 50 of the 71 are awaiting trial for a drug-related offence.

Thirty-six accused are awaiting trial for conspiracy to deal in drugs, five for the importation of illegal substances, six for drug trafficking and one for the cultivation of cannabis.

Six defendants await trial for murder, six on an attempted murder charge, two over rape involving minors, two each on aggravated theft and arson and one each on fraud and money laundering and human trafficking.

Sources said charges relating to the importation of drugs, drug trafficking and conspiracy to deal in drugs all carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Attempted murder carries a maximum sentence of 30 years, while rape of a minor can see someone go to jail for 16 years. The maximum punishment for money laundering is 17 years.

According to the data, the man awaiting trial since the bill of indictment was issued in 2002 had allegedly committed the crime the previous year. The murders were committed in 1998 and 1993, while one of the alledged rapes took place in 2005.

Sources said Malta’s justice system has earned a reputation of long delays, but awaiting trial for 15 years was “unheard of”.

Earlier this year, a man who allegedly shot dead his business partner in 2008 died following a long illness. Dione Mercieca was still out on bail seven years after the shooting.

He was awaiting a trial by jury for shooting Martin Scicluna, 43, of Siġġiewi, who died on the spot after allegedly being shot twice in the head with a shotgun following an argument with business partner Mr Mercieca.

Mr Scicluna, a father of two, was shot in the face in the presence of his employees.

They know they may get to spend the rest of their lives in jail. Is this procrasination fair for their family?

Soon after the shooting, Mr Mercieca gave himself up at the law courts in Valletta.

The fact that he died before facing justice outraged the family.

“I thought I’d be relieved when he died, because he would face judgment before his creator, but instead we’re still suffering because we will never get the answers to make sense of Martin’s death,” Jacqui Scicluna told The Sunday Times of Malta in January.

Several lawyers who spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta said their clients who were awaiting trial were “living on the edge”.

“They are out on bail, but they know that sooner or later they will be facing a panel of jurors with the possibility that they get to spend the rest of their lives in jail. Is it fair? Is this procrastination fair for their family?” asked one lawyer.

matthew.xuereb@timeofmalta.com