Be the first to comment!3-year ban and €4650 fine for 2nd masked Foresta hunter
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This morning, a magistrate’s court in Valletta found a second man, Carl Borg, from Mellieha, guilty of illegally hunting inside a Bird Sanctuary during this year’s spring hunting season in April.
BirdLife Malta in a statement this afternoon said that Magistrate Anthony Vella, presiding, handed down a fine of €4650 and a three-year suspension from holding a hunting licence, after Mr Borg had entered a plea of not guilty at an earlier hearing.
BLM said that the conviction came as a result of video and photographic evidence gathered by BirdLife Malta staff and volunteers and eyewitness statements identifying the accused.
Two BBC journalists were also present when the incident took place and provided video footage for use as evidence. Chris Debono, BirdLife Malta’s Conservation and Policy Officer said, “This case again highlights the vital contribution made by volunteers monitoring illegal hunting and the value of video evidence in these cases.”
Mr Borg’s co-accused, Christian Gauci, pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced before the end of the spring hunting season, receiving a similar fine and hunting ban. Chris added, “We are pleased with the outcome of this case, and hope that this marks a departure from the soft-sentencing for hunting and trapping illegalities we have seen in the not-so-distant past.”
In another case heard today, a trapper, Johnsilv Galea was convicted of illegalities committed in summer last year, resulting in a €700 fine, after previously being convicted earlier this month of a similar offence committed in spring 2012.
Steve Micklewright, BirdLife Malta’s Executive Director, said, “These cases send a very strong message to hunters and trappers who commit illegal acts. However, we understand there are as many as 600 pending cases for hunting and trapping offences awaiting the attention of the Malta Law Courts. Hopefully we will soon see this backlog of cases cleared so that hunters who commit illegal acts know they will be dealt with.”
