Eagle hunter fined Lm200

A hunter who pleaded guilty to being in possession of a freshly killed short-toed eagle and who had already been found guilty three times of hunting-related offences was fined Lm200.

Eric Scicluna, of Mtarfa, was found in possession of the dead bird when he was stopped in a roadblock by soldiers on October 27, 2005.

He was accused of trying to bribe public officials and of committing a crime involving a strictly protected species. He was further charged of relapsing, having been found guilty of hunting in the closed season and of being found in possession of protected species on two other occasions. The last sentence was handed down on November 3, 2004.

Mr Scicluna pleaded guilty to all charges and the court, presided over by Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna, took this into consideration as well as the fact that he cooperated with the police when deciding on punishment.

The court ordered that the specimen be given to the Natural History Museum in Mdina.