AFM Drug Heist Suspect Jailed Over Illegal Pepper Spray Possession

A man currently out on bail over his alleged involvement in the Armed Forces of Malta drug heist has been sentenced to five months in prison after being found guilty of illegally possessing pepper spray and disturbing the public peace.

According to MaltaToday, Yousef Essesi, 33, from St Paul’s Bay, was convicted in connection with a separate incident that took place inside and outside a tattoo parlour in Ħamrun earlier this year.

Essesi is one of several individuals facing charges in the ongoing AFM drug heist case, which centres on the theft of cannabis resin from an Armed Forces of Malta barracks in Safi.

In the Ħamrun case, police were called to the scene following an argument involving Essesi and another man, Keith Pace. During investigations, officers discovered a canister of pepper spray hidden inside the premises, while an airsoft pistol was also found.

Essesi admitted to discharging the pepper spray after three men entered his shop.

However, the court acquitted him of several more serious charges, including causing bodily harm, making threats and using a weapon during the commission of a crime. Key witnesses declined to testify and no medical evidence was presented to support the allegations.

The court nevertheless found Essesi guilty of possessing prohibited pepper spray under Maltese law and of breaching the public peace.

In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo noted Essesi’s previous criminal convictions and ruled that earlier opportunities for rehabilitation had failed to prevent further offending.

Essesi was consequently sentenced to an effective prison term of five months.

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Dylan Attard

Dylan Attard is a Social Media Executive at Lovin Malta and a proud Gozitan with a passion for digital media, content creation, and social trends. Outside of work, you’ll usually find him at the gym, watching series or doomscrolling.