FKNK Gozitan trapper member “beaten by a foreign couple”

Hunters’ federation Federazzjoni Kaccaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti (FKNK) has said that a Gozitan member of the federation, “who was legally trapped according to the research rules, was a victim of physical violence.”

In a statement on Sunday, FKNK said that “a foreign couple approached the trapper alleging that he was trapping illegally.”

According to the federation, “instead of reporting the case to the Police, the foreign man grabbed the trapper, threw him to the ground, threw himself on top of him and started punching him.”

“That was not enough.” FKNK added. “While the stunned trapper was with the ground, the man shouted to his wife to hold the trapper’s legs so he could continue to punch him in the face.”

“It was only thanks to a hunter who was in the vicinity that went to help the trapper that the attack was stopped,” stated FKNK.

Following the incident, the federation said that “the trapper went to the hospital due to the injuries he suffered all over his body, the most serious to his face, and also made a report to the Gozo police.”

“While the police are still investigating,” the FKNK said that it will “offer any assistance that its trapping member may need, even through its own lawyer.”

In a separate incident that was reported, FKNK said that a couple, “probably also foreigners,” opened a cage allowing a finch to be set free, “they fled the scene before the trapper who owned the bird could stop them.”

Referring to what FKNK described as “another theatrical case, a woman is seen walking with her dog off its lead straight into an assembled trapping area.” FKNK added that the ” provocation for the trapper in this case was obvious enough.”

FKNK continued by saying that, “while confrontation may be the easiest way for the federation, the FKNK members are encouraged not to fall for the provocations of those who may be desperate and sad.”

The FKNK concluded by appealing to the Maltese Government and the Police “to prevent the occurrence of these obscenities within the Maltese islands against Maltese and Gozitan citizens who deserve to continue to enjoy legally their traditional passion in peace and tranquillity as our fathers have always done, without illegal obstruction of anyone, neither Maltese nor Gozitans, much less of foreign guests.”

File photo