2 comments so far.2 men jailed and fined for illegal hunting and illegal guns
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The law courts today sentenced a hunter to two years imprisonment and a €9,000 fine, and another to one year imprisonment and a €5000 fine, for targeting protected White Storks on the 18th May this year. All hunting licenses were permanently revoked for both individuals.
In a statement issued today by Birdlife Malta it said, “both hunters were found guilty of contravening several sections of national hunting law including; hunting out of season, hunting protected birds, the use of illegal cartridges with large pellets, and the use of an illegal irregular shotgun.”
“In sentencing them the court also took into consideration the fact that in spite of both accused having several previous hunting convictions they persisted in hunting illegally,” Birdlife said.
The NGO went on to say that “one of the hunters was apprehended by two ALE officers in Zurrieq with a dead stork and a loaded shotgun after the officers heard shots at a roosting flock of White Storks and saw two of the birds being shot down. Another two hunters managed to escape the ALE. Two dead storks and a third injured and dying stork were recovered from the area.”
“The other hunter was seen with his shotgun in Madliena when several shots were fired at a large flock of White Storks and an eye witness gave his number place to the police. He was later apprehended by the police, when he admitted chasing the storks seeking an opportunity to shoot at them, but denied shooting at them. A dead stork was recovered from Madliena the day after the incident,” Birdlife said.
BirdLife Malta concluded by saying it congratulated the ALE on their successful action in these incidents and today’s prosecution.
“Enforcement in the field needs to be supported by effective court sentences like todays, if illegal hunting is to be controlled. BirdLife Malta is hopeful that future court sentences will increasingly serve as real deterrents to illegal hunting.” concluded Mr Joseph Mangion, BirdLife Malta President.
I have to say that even though I’m opposed to hunting, especially out of season or of protected species this court ruling has surprised me. Given the number of suspended sentences handed down in Malta this seems harsh to say the least. There seems to be a problem in Malta with reaching a balance when it comes to sentencing.
It is about time that poachers are being given punishments that might just act as a deterrent to other hunter-cum-poachers. Well done.