Lm100 fine for injuring warden

A Qormi man was yesterday fined Lm100 for an altercation with a warden.

Philip Agius, 51, was found guilty of seriously injuring warden George Zammit in Qormi on July 6, 2000 at about 6.30 p.m.

But Magistrate Noel Cuschieri ruled that the warden had reacted out of all proportion to the matter and Agius was somewhat provoked to behave as he did.

The magistrate remarked that the wardens service was indispensable and they did a good job in disciplining drivers on the road and parking. He said he appreciated that wardens were not much liked because of the nature of their work but anger at getting booked was not a mitigating circumstance and such reactions, particularly if they led to assault, should be punishable by jail.

Magistrate Cuschieri however called on wardens to be polite and prudent because they would otherwise lose the protection afforded to them by law.

He ruled that Agius had a relatively clean criminal record and nothing which indicated he had an impulsive or aggressive temperament. He had in fact reacted to some provocation and, as such, a jail term was not appropriate.

Police Inspector Silvana Agius prosecuted.