Stall owner attacks inspector

A stall owner at the Cospicua open market attacked an inspector yesterday morning after his attention was drawn to the fact that no prices were displayed on the underwear he had for sale.

The man, 20-year-old Elton Briffa, was selling lingerie from his stall, which he sets up every Tuesday in St Margaret Square, when three market surveillance officers from the Consumer and Competition Division approached him at about 9.45 a.m.

The officers drew Mr Briffa's attention to the fact that he was breaking the law by not displaying the prices of the goods laid out on his stand.

The inspectors carry out spot checks once a month at stalls, markets and shops to ensure the owners are fulfilling their duties towards the consumer.

An argument ensued and Mr Briffa punched and pushed one of the officers, a court heard during the stall owner's arraignment yesterday.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona heard the young man plead guilty to threatening, assaulting the officials, slightly injuring the officer and breaching the peace.

The court took into consideration his early guilty plea and conditionally discharged him for three years.

The Ministry of Finance, Economy and Investments condemned the violent act and said that, subsequent to the incident, the assistant director of the same division received an insulting telephone call about the case.