Prime Minister Steps In To Save Reformed Maltese Drug Addict From Jail
The case of William Agius, a 32-year-old man who is facing a hefty prison sentence for having trafficked ecstasy pills 14 years ago, has captured the hearts of many in Malta. Now Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has urged politicians to put their heads together to find a way to save Agius from a prison sentence, admitting the man’s case keeps him tossing and turning at night.
“Malta’s drug laws envisage harsh sentences to people who traffic drugs in the vicinity of a school, and with good reason, but Agius had trafficked drugs on a Saturday when School was out,” Muscat said at a political activity today. “Differences between politicians emerge when we’re faced with cases like this. The law was designed to protect our children, but we’re talking here about a man who slipped up 14 years ago and who has now reformed himself. What will we do? I don’t know if we’ll be able to reach a solution, but this government’s secret is that its remained close to the people and doesn’t brush off anomalies like this. I don’t know if we’ll reach a solution but, as a start, the Prime Minister, Cabinet and civil society are aware of the problem and are committed to having the best possible laws.”
Agius was 18 when he and a fellow dealer were arrested in Qormi back in 2004 in what was back then the largest street haul of ecstasy pills in Malta’s history. Police said they seized 2,043 ecstasy tablets with a street value of €28,000 (LM 12,000).
However, Agius has since reformed himself and hasn’t touched drugs in over a decade. He has also opened a shop and found a new passion in travelling.
“I am William with a past like everyone else,” he said in a recent interview with Lovin Malta. “I don’t regret anything I have been through, because without it, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. My passion is travelling. I believe that travelling means freedom, I like to travel for the adventure of it all. There is something super exciting about not knowing what you’re going to discover. Travelling also helps me discover new things like food, I love experimenting with food and most importantly I love to eat it! I enjoy making people laugh and at the same time I am a happy go lucky guy.”
“I also hate drugs with a passion. Drugs are taken as a means to an escape from reality. I have been clean for the past 10 years and I honestly do not crave any alternate substances. What I’ve learnt throughout my journey is that patience is key and that every feeling we are trying to run away from will eventually go away, especially if we face them.”
Almost 11,000 people have signed an online petition aimed at sparing Agius from a prison sentence as of the time of writing.
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