Monday, 25th August 2008 - 18:55CET
FKNK official fined over Kercem incident
Carmel (Lino) Farrugia, a senior official of the hunters' federation, has been fined €349.40 by the Appeals Court after he was found guilty of having encouraged or assisted another person to violate a police order to stop the trapping of birds.
The incident happened on November 26, 2006 at l-Ghadira ta San Rafflu, near Kercem, Gozo.
The Appeals Court said it was satisfied that Mr Farrugia had not gone to the site to trap birds, but, as an official of the hunters' federation, to investigate a complaint by Paul Grech over the actions of the police.
The court said that Mr Farrugia's presence for almost two hours at a place where nets had been put up, manifestly against the law, without him doing anything to draw attention to this violation of the law, as well as his attitude to the police, particularly when he told Mr Grech not to dismantle the nets, as ordered by the police, rendered him guilty of having assisted or encouraged Mr Grech to violate regulations.
Mr Farrugia and Mr Grech had originally been acquitted by the Magistrates' Court for lack of evidence. The Appeals Court overturned the judgment. Mr Grech was fined €931.74.
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See you out there then!
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@ Ernest Vella: Have you reported anyone illegally entering your property?
Has it ever occurred to you that the police might be permitting Birdlife members to handle the birds hunters kill, the reason being that the police cannot be everywhere, and Birdlife would in effect be helping the police? The same cannot be said of hunters.
As to "It seems birdwatchers can get away with murder!", that's quite rich, coming from someone who actually gets away with the murder of birds.
"Strangely" enough, you have not commented on Mr Farrugia's actions in this case. Does it mean you condone it? And if not, shouldn't an official of the FKNK be setting an example? How can he be taken seriously now (if he ever was)?
Anti-hunting banalities? when environmental crimes are committed, starting from FKNK officials themselves? pffft!!! What arrogance! You and people like you are only kidding themselves !
Yes...I happily crusade in favour of safeguarding wild life for ALL to enjoy, including you and your kids. Now thats a cause to fight for. See ya too, as I'll be watching - within the laws of course !!
The mentality displayed by many of the "hunting fraternity" is despicable - "I have big gun, I do what I like. If you don't like it, take your "crusade" elsewhere." Well, the majority of Maltese citizens don't like it; and you are part of an insignificant minority who seek to impose their will on the majority. Why don't you take your "passetemp" elsewhere?
Meanwhile, I'll continue to dare. And come 1st September, I will be exercising my legal right to hunt in peace....on my land and within the law. See ya!
This is a black on white ruling now and still people like you dare to come up with any silly remark to excuse the inexcusable. Stay with the topic: Mr Farrugia was found guilty and fined. He now has a criminal record and not a good example to the rest of the law-abiding hunters he represents. Wonder of wonders, FKNK is mute on its website too (till now).
For your information the current laws and fines are among the strictest in Europe and also include jail terms.
Fines serve a number of purposes:-
1. To demonstrate society's disapproval of the behaviour that brought about the fine.
2. As a law-abiding society’s penalty for the transgressions of the person who breaks the law.
3. To act as deterrent for that person and others you might contemplate such behaviour in the future.
For those reasons, fines should be substantial enough to make a lasting impression on the person found guilty and on all those of a similar mind-set. Only then will the fine achieve its objectives.
The comment re Lead shot in our veggies......Pathetic!
Mr Farrugia, I salute you.
Having said all that ... lead is an insidious heavy metal and not something you'd want to have around in your environment. Apart from that I found that last spring when hunting was heavily curtailed I could enjoy the countryside and saw many more birds than I usually do.
Congratulations Mr Farrugia your the CHERRY on the cake.
@ Carl Pol, I don't know what chemistry knowledge you have but, you are wasted here, in Malta why not go to NASA they would do with Knowledge.
Let us have back our hobbies
Toni
It is illegal under Maltese law to shoot, keep or carry a protected bird. Anyone found guilty is liable to be fined according to law.
it is common for the Times to carry pictures of birdwatchers holding a dead bird which they claim to have been shot. This makes identification of the criminal very easy.
Applying the same reasoning as the Court of Appeal did in Mr. Farrugia's case. The person finding a dead bird, whilst satisfying the court that it did not shoot the bird, should be fined for having it in his possession. He is duty bound to observe the law and inform the police rather than flout the law. Any others present whilst this criminal is committing such a crime are also encouraging the perpetrator to violate regulations and consequently equally guilty.
The commissioner of police has been informed of similar instances yet he chose to allow similar crimes unhindered.
It seems birdwatchers can get away with murder! It is only hunters that hit the headlines.