Two hunters fined almost €1,000
A hunter was fined €500, had his shotgun confiscated and his licence suspended for a year after he admitted to shooting a black kite in the middle of a road.
The kite, which is a medium-sized prey in the family that also includes other raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers, was shot last November at Ta' Qali. Stefan Bartolo, 28, pleaded guilty to shooting the bird from a road on a Sunday afternoon despite having been warned by a Mepa official on site that the bird was protected.
Another hunter, 21-year-old Yannic Fenech of Mosta, was fined €460 and had his licence suspended for six months after he was found in possession of a shotgun and two dead birds during the closed season last February.
Mr Fenech was held by the police near Salina Bay after they suspected wrongdoing when they saw him leave Ta' Qali.
14 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
A.Farrugia
Oct 10th 2008, 23:11
Well Ms. Zarb Darmanin, I am lost for words, dumbfounded I should say.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Oct 10th 2008, 09:07
Mr/Ms A Farrugia,. It is you who is redirecting attention. I assure you I am not a hunter but a person who respects and tolerate others, whilst keeping my priorities in the right order - something which you quite lack Sir/Madam!!
Please, please, what do you have to say about my argument?!
c.camillieri
Oct 9th 2008, 16:43
Good they have been fined but what counts is whether they will pay. Hundreds of fines are still not collected by our courts.
A.Farrugia
Oct 9th 2008, 14:31
Sylvana
You are trying to redirect attention, for your own known reasons. Accept the fact that what you have been trying to cover up and paint as saints is crumbling right before you. But then again, you have claimed that you are not a hunter, so no need to feel too bad about it, don't we. Who breaks the law (and is caught) has to pay for it, only in this case, it was a slap on the hand. They should have been 10 times harsher and gave an example to the other hunting bullies.
J Oatmon
Oct 9th 2008, 13:07
The fines and sentence should be much higher for theses offences.
The pre-meditated blatant incredible arrogance of these bird shooters, in dis-obeying the well publicised laws, about protected species and shooting from a public road.
The sentence should be 6 months in jail and no more guns forever, and a five year suspended sentence for any further infringement.
Andrew Gatt
Oct 9th 2008, 12:12
Poachers like these should be fined to the maximum and NEVER be given a licence again. You have to be crazy to shoot a protected bird from a MAIN ROAD.
Disgusting.
A Fabri
Oct 9th 2008, 11:42
I call this just a ridiculous sentence and an insult to the society.
Is this as a contribution towards a better environment?? this is what the culprit learned at the end of the day??
What about spending 2 years Community Services with Bird life volunteers or some other green NGOs. Common sense
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Oct 9th 2008, 11:39
The real ‘FARSA’ is how certain contributors opt to spend all their energy on hunting issues and birds, yet completely have no concern whatsoever with illegalities involving the HUMAN-BEING: rape and drug-addiction to name just a few!!
I ask those who are requesting higher punishments to read about the Kyle Burden’s case in the UK and see for themselves the punishment handed down by Telford Magistrates Court on 19th September 2008. Maybe then, they will realise how frantic their requests are.
Irresponsible hunters are to be brought to justice, as indeed is the case here. But, please, let us place our priorities in the right order!!!!!!!!!
Mark Anthony Vella
Oct 9th 2008, 11:01
"after he admitted to shooting a black kite in the middle of a road" What if he hit a car or some people by mistake? What if a child was there to see him in action? He should be jailed for a month, suspended licence forever and fined 10000!!!! This is a true FARSA, get real!!!
R caruana
Oct 9th 2008, 10:29
Just € 500 ''Farsa''
How much did Mr. Bartolo and Mr. Fenech's unacceptable behavior cost the tax payer??... not to mention the negative publicity Malta gets abroad
Nigel Lawrence
Oct 9th 2008, 10:00
Hopefully the confiscated gun will be destroyed and not simply handed back, so the offence can be repeated.
John Xuereb
Oct 9th 2008, 09:27
Revoke their licences for good and jail anyone hunting wihtout a licence. That will surely be the right step if we really want to eradicate illegal hunting.
fred sultana
Oct 9th 2008, 09:09
almost??? should be ONLY!
M. Borg
Oct 9th 2008, 09:01
What a joke!
No wonder these low-lives shoot everything that moves with impunity. So an illegal borehole is EUR50,000 (which I fully agree with!) but depriving me and my familty from our right to see a glorious bird of prey in our countryside is a measly EUR500.
Only in Malta!!!!!!