Students fined for swimming naked

Joe Xuereb

Aug 19th 2010, 14:45

@ Teresa Calleja, what I write is not all of me you know but what you write is. Typical Maltese 'holier-than-thou'. I respect 'so to speak' people expressing an opinion which is not the same as saying that I actually read and finish such opinions. A quick scan suffices. (hence my inaccuracy and your only semi-valid quibble). If you are that frightened of drunken men with their trousers round their ankles, I would advise you to run whereas they can't. If you've experienced the ultimate horror, I regret that for your sake, but other than that, I have no say in it being homosexual (I could tell YOU about intolerance endured especially from creatures such as you). Don't go swimming at St.George's Pool at 5.20am if you can help it is my advice to you. You live far as you say so it shouldn't be difficult.
About what I write, intolerance, shoving things down people's throats, etc. you don't have to read any of it. You always have a choice. You don't have to get your knickers in a twist you know. Keep away from me and San Gorg, il-bajja ta'. LoL!!!
PS In MY book you ARE inquisitive.

Theresa Calleja

Aug 13th 2010, 22:07

@ Mr Xuereb...

1) I do not live anywhere near St George's Bay...
2) 'liberal' in quotes is not sarcastic... being Liberal implies tolerance, looked hard for some in your comments, only found an imposition of your beliefs on those who do not share them (to the degree of expecting a law change to accommodate you) and a myriad of unfounded personal attacks.
3) As a man who (I guess) does not have experience with women who have suffered rape and abuse you would not understand why some women would feel threatened by drunk naked men whereas men (the physically stronger sex) would not.
4 "'when you should be preparing yourself for the very first Mass, tal-kaccaturi (hunters' Mass, as we say) 'cause you have a busy schedule ahead. Like putting your nose out of joint sniffing out other people's business." Disrespectful, aggressive, untrue,defamatory, highly intolerant... definition of the Maltese 'liberal'?

John Brad

Aug 13th 2010, 21:34

There is a fine line between immorality and witch hunting. No one says it is ok to walk naked in the city center an noon. But hunting people down in the middle of the night to see what are they doing, "saint pure girl" hanging on the beach at night and being "displeased", c'mon, that is pure hypocrisy. And that is not morality or piety, it is just religious legalism.

Stephen Borg Cardona

Aug 13th 2010, 21:23

Let them enjoy their holiday in peace ! The amount of hypocrisy in Malta is astounding.

Joe Xuereb

Aug 13th 2010, 20:57

2) This of course all happened soon after Franco's, the ultra-religious fascist, dictatorship came to a timely end. Spain opened its lungs at last. The repressed Spanish fuego (fire) had been simmering away for so long they did not hang about too much waiting for someone to give them freedom. They took the bull by the balls, sorry, by the horns and Spain is the country we have today. A beautiful country in spite of its problems. Just like Malta. Except that Malta seems to have more problems that a beauty that once was. Ole!!

Joe Xuereb

Aug 13th 2010, 20:47

1) It is more than thirty years ago (1977?) that I spent a holiday on Mykonos' (Greece) Paradise Beach (a nudist beach - not a colony; but a secluded beach for anyone wanting to be naked. It was my first time, I was with female work-colleagues, I was young, I wanted to explore life, it was embarrasing at first but took to it like a duck to water. One could only get to this beach on a rickety boat that took about 50 people at a time). I've been to saunas/Turkish baths all over the world, from Montreal to Istanbul, via Durban. I am still in one piece, my spirit squeaky-clean. At about the same time (late seventies) I was in very Catholic Spain and visited a nudist beach that wasn't even secluded (just a section of a much larger beach - they have long beaches in Spain).
There were youngISH couples entirely naked, relaxed, picnicking and talking together. They behaved exactly like they had clothes on. I wonder if that's the answer to sexual/marriage neurosis? Not godly for sure, buy hey!! if it works!
continued

maria farrugia

Aug 13th 2010, 20:44

The law is the law, and it should be respected. When we visit other countries, we abide to their laws, so why all the big deal here!!!!!!!! Try throwing a sweet wrapper in a foreign country..............

pat camilleri

Aug 13th 2010, 20:32

There were several doing the same thing in Sliema near in exiles. Others were virtually copulating on the beach. We called the police but don't know if the officers did go down to the rocks as we had to leave the beach ,as we would rather not expose my two young grandchildren to such obscenities. I am no prude, and suggest that they pay their money and go and do what they like in one of the many hotels which were built for the convenience of these so called students.All I can say is it is against the law in Malta. Try doing the same thing in Spain. I can tell you you would be taken to the police station and charged.

John Brad

Aug 13th 2010, 20:01

Geez! What a country of barbarians. Maybe Malta worth visiting but with such people, better somewhere else.

A.Tanti

Aug 13th 2010, 19:05

I'd like to applaud Daphne Caruna on her thoughts about this naked swimming "incident". I couldn't agree with her more and think that this whole issue is ridiculous, a waste of time and money! I'm fairly sure that there are MUCH better things that the "powers that be" can be using their time and effort. If anyone would like to read her article, you can find it at this link:

http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2010/08/12/malta-in-2010-where-skinny-dipping-gets-you-a-prison-sentence/

Yes these two boys were perhaps wrong for what they did -at least according to the law in Malta. And they should have respected the laws while living or traveling here or in any other country for that matter. But to "cut off their private part, put it on ice and display at the airport for all to see"? That is a seriously extremist way of thinking and living. It boggles my mind that one would even say or believe something like that! I highly doubt the God would condone something like this and that you would get into heaven any faster by doing such an act in his name! I can't do anything but shake my head at this whole non-issue!

Joe Xuereb

Aug 13th 2010, 18:55

@ Theresa Calleja (23hrs. ago). You live a stone's throw from St. George's Bay. Bully for you! Quoting your good (as in pious) self: 'As a woman I do not feel safe swimming around drunk, naked men... apologies to any 'liberal' who fails to see why!'. Ms. Calleja, as a Liberal - note the capital L, absence of sarcastic inverted commas, LIBERAL writ large, I certainly see why but from a more liberal angle. May I say, what are the chances of you finding yourself swimming with frolicking, drunken, naked young senoritos, horny as toreros, at 5.20am when you should be preparing yourself for the very first Mass, tal-kaccaturi (hunters' Mass, as we say) 'cause you have a busy schedule ahead. Like putting your nose out of joint sniffing out other people's business.
What could be more beautiful than a beautiful young man coming out of the frothy sea - a kind of male Venus of Botticelli but without covering his 'god-given'.** A young man made in god's image as people say. Except as a liberal I think a beautiful young naked man can stand on his own image never mind anybody else's.

** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus_(Botticelli)

Joseph E Briffa

Aug 13th 2010, 18:36

We are becoming the laughing stock of Europe......taking youngsters to court and having them convicted for a month - though suspended - AND fined for swimming naked in the small hours of the morning. Will we be recruiting moral police like Iran?

Keith Monaco

Aug 13th 2010, 18:24

PAJJIZ TAL-MICKEY MOUSE
Ma tistax toghom kif halqek alla.
Ma tistax taghmel bbqs hdejn il-bahar.
Jekk ma thllasx, lanqas tista tmur camping mal- familja.
Min irid jibqa il- lejl barra, jigifieri akter mill-4:00am ma jistax.
X jistaw jamlu mela dawn il-povri maltin..... jahdmu bhal klieb biex jipprovaw ilahhqu mal-hajja u nipprovaw inderru rwihna ma dawn il-ligijiet bla sens.
U l- ftit turisti li jigu, inkunu qed najdulom..... mur spanja, il- grecja u postijiet ohra fejn huma aktar tolleranti minna.
Nistaqsi..........FEJNA IL-LIBERTA LI NIFTAHRU BIHA.

J.Torio

Aug 13th 2010, 16:19

I am a Spanish living in Malta for many years. I am also ashamed of the behavior of some compatriots who come here without any respect.and understand that someone gets a fine strip and disorderly conduct (even at 5:00 am) But a month in jail?Are u kidding me? Not much difference between that and radical arab countries, no?

Mario Muscat

Aug 13th 2010, 15:55

Swimming naked is evil , God is against swimming naked , God is not asleep. As a good RC we should set example to all Europe , any man caught swimming naked we should cut his private part ,put it in Ice and display at the Airport for all to see. We should tell all Europe that God is not asleep and its evil to swim naked in Malta.

Robert Calafato

Aug 13th 2010, 14:49

" I skinny dipped when I was a bit younger in the same spot with a mixed group of friends, we're all now doctors, lawyers, social workers..."

This is great news!!! The waters at St.George's bay are miraculous!!!!

I wonder what these two Spanish students will become....... Lawyers, Doctors, Social workers... who knows!!

M.Camilleri

Aug 13th 2010, 14:11

I skinny dipped when I was a bit younger in the same spot with a mixed group of friends, we're all now doctors, lawyers, social workers... why ruin a persons conduct for something so inoffensive?

B. Cachia

Aug 13th 2010, 13:45

I think our Government should consider declaring a state of emergency and bringing out the army to establish order on our beaches.

Skinny-dipping? They used to do that at the time of the Roman Empire and see how they ended up! Action now please, before our society collapses around us!!

o.galea

Aug 13th 2010, 13:22

There's a huge difference between skinny dipping and lying around naked on a beach.

There is totally nothing wrong in skinny dipping if one is discreet (in order not to offend any passers by) and one should be able to do this anywhere.

As for folk who like to sunbathe in the nude... then let's set aside a secluded beach for this.

Re Topless bathers: it's had absolutely NO effect on my children.

Robert Calafato

Aug 13th 2010, 13:21

Mr. Schembri, they could not be the same police that "shot "at you and beat you to a "pulp" in the 80's since that was 30 years ago and they are probably all retired now !!

Hang on, what on earth has this got to do with swimming naked at St. George's bay?

Denis Calleja

Aug 13th 2010, 12:58

Excuse me please, this is part of a national issue. Swimming naked is only the tip of the iceberg. The arrogance in the streets, where they stay, where they study is intolerable. We cannot accept this arrogance from anyone. There is word that they are closing the bay because of this. Yes the foreigners are depriving us from using our bay.

What if whoever is happy with naked swimming gets a bottle in his head from these drunk people or any other Maltese resident?

You cannot drive safely on the roads in St. Julians. They come down the streets at anytime of night till early morning shouting. As far as I know, disturbing public peace is an offense.

Lets get together and stop this nonsense once and for all. We have a right to live in peace and whoever is responsible for public peace, take action please!!

Joseph Schembri

Aug 13th 2010, 12:55

I think people should stop blaming the police. They do not operate in a vacuum - they operate in an environment created by the legislators (in this case the main one is the Justice minister) and the courts of law. These may be the same police who in the 80's shot at us and beat us to a pulp for protesting against a socialist regime. Their actions at the time were accepted, maybe even encouraged by the state. Nothing has changed - the justice system and the government have just changed their targets to a different group of victims.

When I was younger I 'skinny dipped' countless times off the coast of Xghajra - it hurt no one and we had loads of laughs. The police didn't care at the time as they were busy doing what the government of the time required such as firing tear gas at peaceful demonstrators.

Alan Bonnici

Aug 13th 2010, 12:30

Wake Call Malta we need a nude beach for ppl who want to go and swim naked

Joe Xuereb

Aug 13th 2010, 12:28

@ Sur Pulis. Your head is indeed the only thing showing when you're in the water. But if you're naked because your Y-Fronts came off and they're down there, you'll dive for them they're the only pair you have. And what happens? Your ass cleaves the sea-surface and in a small bay like St. George's, your ample behind fattened -on good Maltese fare will cause a mini-tsunami. Causing a tsunami and boats to rock-and-roll would cost you quite a fine I imagine. So tighten the elastic round your waist - what waist?! - so you don't lose your knickers.
More seriously, thinking about Stitching (banned play), and definition of a theatre as public place, are there any saunas in Malta? In sauna men are entirely naked. If a sauna is regarded as a public place (like a theatre) are saunas operating illegally, if they exist at all? Hypocrites!!
@Gerry Cowie. Babies being fined for coming out naked, you say? I thought you were very fond of Maltese-style religiosity. You're not defecting are you Cowie? People are so ingratiating as long as it suits them. They then become fickle, U-Turns. And they go back to wherever it is they came from.

Joe Xuereb

Aug 13th 2010, 12:26

Familiarisation with the object feared resolves the fear (homo-eopathy of the soul I call it - curing like with like). As in for example, if you fear heights, look down from the lift in Barrakka Gardens. There's a safety-rail. You'll soon learn that you don't die by looking at a height.
Now then!! I have seen thousands of naked men of all ages and shapes, at all times, none hiding their 'shame' under water. And I am talking of close proximity, bless 'em!. These policemen, assuming they are heterosexuals (no, it's not a given that being a policeman equates being hot-bloodied heterosexual male, or female, as the case may be - do you see what I mean?) - as I was saying, these policemen, have THEY seen thousands of naked women like my equivalent with men? Ok, a hetero-male doesn't have the same opportunity to live my lifestyle but there are magazines, the internet, where he could catch up, be happy for hours/days on end. He should try it. It is called immunising yourself against the thing you fear. As if!! Ay-ay-ay-ay-Ay!!!!!! What a gay day!
I wonder if there'll be an encore at 5.20am at St. George's Bay. Spoilsports!!!!!!!

josette darmenia

Aug 13th 2010, 10:19

Well well well, thumbs up to the courts for being so efficient for once, a hearing in a few hours and given a sentence!! I have a case in court and it is taking years to give a sentence. Is this not against human rights? Is this not discrimination to give a sentence in such a short time to foreigners and my case is taking toooooooo long!!!! Please someone, PM or whoever is concerned, pls take action as I think I am walking upside down and not seeing things clearly!!!

A.Attard

Aug 13th 2010, 10:00

I think that we are not so much advanced as we are trying to prove by our comments, because if that was the case it would not be one of the most commented articles.There are far much more serious news than this.In Malta swimming nude is a crime get over it guys and grow up

Neil Sant

Aug 13th 2010, 09:15

"Officer, there's an old woman being tied up and robbed!!" "Don't worry. I'll handle it, right after I thwart the evil schemes of these 2 dastardly nudists!"

mario aquilina

Aug 13th 2010, 07:46

We used to swim naked at midnight at Ghar Lapsi, 35 years ago. Nothing new.

Time we had a proper nudist beach, before my eyesight deteriorates.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Aug 13th 2010, 04:41

“a huge problem at St George’s Bay, especially at night, when foreigners got drunk and swam naked.”

If they are not offending or hurting anybody just let them be! It’s not as if they were flirting naked in front of minors at 10.00 am! I am more concerned about drunkenness than nakedness.

I wish police would concentrate more on bringing to justice people/bus drivers who smoke on buses, pubs, restaurants, around children etc. and less on the type of “transgressions” reported in this article.

Michel Bencini

Aug 12th 2010, 23:35

Veru m'ghandhomx x'jaghmlu l-qrati ta' Malta! Min kien qieghed barra jnemmes qabel ix-xemx? Imisshom jisthu jarrestaw gux turisti gharwenin taht il-mewg! X'hela ta' flus il-poplu u zmien prezzjuz! X'kull wahda, din! Din is-sentenza purcinellata mill-kbar nett li twaqqa' lil Malta ghaz-zufjett!

ray sammut

Aug 12th 2010, 22:45

vera pajjiz tad dahk, mela fil 5.20 am hemm il pulizija biex iharrku lil dawn , u waqt dak il qziz kollu li jkun hemm bil giri tal karozzi quddiem l-eden bejn il 11.00pm u 2.00am ma tarhom qatt, issa meta jigri xi accident serju u joqtlu lil xi hadd bil ksuhat ,imbaghad nisimhom il paroli fil vojt tas soltu
halluna!!!

Theresa Calleja

Aug 12th 2010, 19:06

1) The beach in question is a stone's throw away from residences, yes, some people do have jobs and no, waking up to naked drunken swimmers (male or female) is not the start of a good day.
2) As a woman I do not feel safe swimming around drunk, naked men... apologies to any 'liberal' who fails to see why!

mpace2

Aug 12th 2010, 17:22

Send them home they causing lot of trouble everyday specially in St Julians and Paceville area and these Spain braining students looks like they own the world they supposed they are over here to learn English not making love and striptease and staying till 06;00am wonder around the mentioned sites and in a few hours they attend English lessons???

Miriam Debrincat

Aug 12th 2010, 16:42

It's better that instead of watching St George Bay they watch behind Hilton Hotel on the rocks cause it's like a sex temple with people totally naked having sex in the early morning hours. No one can say it's not true cause Hilton Employee see this disgusting scene going almost everyday, especially weekends. This has gotta stop. Even that when you go to the beach with young children you have to find someone topless for sure. I thought there was a beach specifically for these people, Paradise Bay! You try to avoid beaches and you go to a hotel pool paying good money to find again the same situation. Where are the Laws and Values? Why the goverment permit these people to use the beach like it was theirs private beach? Why the hotels don't stick with their policy? Their just afraid they might loose their temporary guests so they prefer to loose permanent clients, we Maltese that we are around all year long! I hope that some action can be taken on these situations cause they are not fair for families who has children.

a taliana

Aug 12th 2010, 16:32

Whatever happened to the George Cross island? Oh yes, it is now the HA HA island. Iran here we come. Ara veru issa tlifna l-boxxla ta.

E Aquilina

Aug 12th 2010, 16:20

Come on..... two young men swimming in the buff for a laugh or good old freedom!! Shock and horror.! Nude bathing when few people are around reminds me more of E.M. Foster's 'A Room with a View' rather than anything sordid. No lewed acts were reported, no one was offened, so what is the point of punishment here?

G Cuschieri

Aug 12th 2010, 16:18

Have anyone been at Spain in Barcellona in the centre of all the tourist,and notice an old man walking naked with a tatoo underwear and no one giving any notice,and he got something to show TA!!

joe pace

Aug 12th 2010, 16:17

mela ghandi l-malja naqra il- lakstu imgebbed ahjar nibdila ma tmurx taqali !

C Galea

Aug 12th 2010, 16:11

After having just spent three full weeks on this island called Malta this story is Shockingly SAD SAD SAD, Police and all Goverment ministers, all of you out there in control GET REAL AND GET A LIFE. I though being born naked is the norm, but of course nakedness is real harmfull and EXTREMELY DANGEROUIS TO ONES HEALTH. Nakedness at night is far too a serious a crime in Malta.God Forbid. What about each and every bus and car and truck that is choking all the inhabitants from breathing properly which i saw lots off ?????? Is this not costing the country a lot more money and taking away the fun. Perhaps thes kids inhaled too many fumes and it went to their herads? CONSIDER THAT ? GET REAL ALL OF YOU OUT THERE. ENFORCE THESE LAWS that REALLY MATTER .

John Jaccarini

Aug 12th 2010, 16:10

This reminds me of an episode of a friend of mine who was swimming naked outside Gnejna Bay. The Mobile Sea Police came up on him with their boat and asked him there and then 'urina l-ID card'. Makes you wonder where one can keep an ID card on when swimming naked!!
Anyway, after swimming back to shore with the police on his trail, he got his ID card from his bag. His particulars were taken and still got fined by the courts for immorality.

Susan Moore

Aug 12th 2010, 14:45

Since when is the Police force policing swimmers from down below?
Are they equipped with Scuba-diving gear? Torches? Night-vision goggles for good measure?

Whichever way you look at it... somebody at St Georges Bay is guilty of Voyeurism.

Is photographic evidence available too?
I'd appreciate being included in the jury next time! Thanks!

Patrick Sacco

Aug 12th 2010, 14:01

Was there a sign informing swimmers not to swim naked?

Claudia Bautz

Aug 12th 2010, 12:56

Something else comes just in my mind:
What is with all the young tourist girls, they walk only IN BIKINI (!!!) on the pavements in Sliema, Gzira, San Gwann etc.???
Not near the beach - no- in the middle of shops, restaurants, churches - surrounded by lots of people, young and old, and children. Crowded places!
This offends ME! Not, because I am jealous. I was honestly shocked, when such young woman passing by, because there was nothing hiding.
And I am sure, nobody jail them 1 month. Everybody knows, why.
Where is the example in such cases, please, Mr Joseph Aquilina?

Claudia Bautz

Aug 12th 2010, 12:46

Oh my god, I cannot believe it!!!
Is it such a hard crime to swim with just the dress god gave all of us???
I am shocked to read this!
There are criminal people, who are selling drugs or trying to kill people, and the punishment for that is in nothing, comparatively to this for swimming naked.
Of course, if someone feels offended (what I cannot imagine at 5.20am), they should be advised. So a warning should be enough.
But to jail youngsters for such a boyisch fun...
I think now they have a strange impression of our island, and they wont speak good about their time here, when they're back home.
Please, relax and let the people have at least some fun at night!

Keith Chircop

Aug 12th 2010, 12:36

So the police have been staking out the beach at 5am, hoping to see some TnA?

JAFarrugia

Aug 12th 2010, 12:03

Just goes to show what a pathetic police force and Justice system we have.

M. Zarb

Aug 12th 2010, 12:01

Jail, for 20-year olds, for swimming naked in an hour so early, it was probably still dark.

I can understand the fine, but... jail? Really?

Stella Calleja

Aug 12th 2010, 11:32

Fil-5.20 ta filodu, il-hut ta go l-ilma hassewhom offizi hafna b'dak li raw, u l-bram hadu skandlu kbir. Irridu naghmlu xi haga dwara din il-problema. Ma nistawx inhallu l-hut u l-bram jaraw dawn l-affarjiet moqzieza f'hin daqshekk krucjali tal-gurnata.

B'hekk hemm bzonn li nhassru l-kondotta ta zewg guvintur ghadhom jibdew il-hajja, billi nwahhluhom multa u nitfawhom xahar habs. Dan huwa necessarju sabiex il-hut u l-bram jhossuhom li saret gustizzja.

D. Scerri

Aug 12th 2010, 11:26

The police inspector should be promoted as it is thanks to officials like him that criminals are apprehended. Get a life !!!

Therese Vella

Aug 12th 2010, 11:12

3 points:
1.Drinking and swimming, whether clothed or not is a SERIOUS mistake.

2. The Paceville area almost seems to be the new Sodom & Gomorrah - drink combined with drugs, rampant sex, vandalism, thieving, fighting & swearing, skinny dipping...

3. I once brought over a group of young people from Ukraine on a youth exchange programme and the first thing they asked me was how do we go to Paceville?

Adriran Vella

Aug 12th 2010, 11:11

Hey Mr. Taliban tally me banana............................

o.galea

Aug 12th 2010, 11:04

a warning by the police should have sufficed.
They should have just been told to get dressed and go home.
the beach was deserted at that time after all.
How traumatic for these young students to be dragged to court.

I'm surprised the magistrate didn't throw the case out of court.

Bernard Storace

Aug 12th 2010, 11:01

Much ado about nothing.....Fines given out and collected on the spot will most probably never be allowed in catholic Malta (as is normal practice in most other countries) for the very simple reason that the officer(s) collecting the fine might end up pocketing it instead. Dipping, of course, but not 'skinny'; how about into the public purse then?

R Marquette

Aug 12th 2010, 10:48

May I ask the authorities for an update about the investigation with regards to the recent cases of vandalism in St Julians? I am aware of 2 cases in particular, 1 in a particular street in Balluta where a couple of drunk students vandalized tens of cars and the other case about the students vandalizing a telephone box infront of Park Towers in St. Julians!! I think that in both cases a fine and suspended jail sentence would have been more appropriate in these cases!

Or maybe ............ everyone is making a fuss about skinny dipping coz it offends the country's religious beliefs?? I must say that during the last couple of years, every single case that offended Catholics was exaggerated and ended in court!

Who is in real total control of this country?? The Church or The Government??

On a final note ... please remember that Tourism is the strongest industry on our Island ... all these things are not helping it grow for sure!

Ian Micallef

Aug 12th 2010, 10:07

Incredible, why not sentence them to life in prison and fine them a few thousand euros!! Who is awake anyway at 5.20am ??? Who was offended ? Would they have got fined less if perhaps it was 3am ?? I say we all go swimming at 830am .... then there will be noone to offend .... and how did they get caught couldnt they have just swam away.

Got to get off this rock !

t. borg

Aug 12th 2010, 10:03

ahna niddependu mit-turizmu. studenti huma turisti u qed ihallu l-flus. meta jikbru jergu jigu mall-familji taghhom bhal ma kienu s-servizzi inglizi. ghandu jkun hemm nude beach maghluq. ghaliex le? min irid imur imur, min huwa skupruz ma jmurx. din tal-puritani toffendini ghax li timponi l-opinjoni fuq haddiehor tikser id-drittijiet. meta se nikbru?

M.Camilleri

Aug 12th 2010, 09:40

So the Sliema mayor who admits to receiving a Commission gets a front page interview on the TOM and two guys who skinny dip (who hasn't done it when they were kids?) get a suspended sentence? Draconian.

gcForte

Aug 12th 2010, 08:42

Mn`Alla l-ggant tal palazz ghandu dik il werqa, ghax mur ara x`festa jghamlu bih............HUX

M. Camilleri

Aug 12th 2010, 08:39

What would have happened if these 2 young men were 2 young women? Would we have made a fuss? I very much doubt it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Muscat Pat

Aug 12th 2010, 08:32

I suppose that we now have up and running the Police of Public Morals; just like Iran! The people who reported these students must have been wearing night vision goggles at 5.30am....when it is still dark!

Pierre Portelli

Aug 12th 2010, 08:09

This some kind of sick joke?! Who was around at 5.20 am to be offended? Some family with young kids? Do our police have nothing better to do?

R.Gatt

Aug 12th 2010, 08:06

Lol...instead of fining the students for swimming under the influence thus posing a threat to their own lives and potentially that of anyone coming to their rescue should anything go wrong, they get fined for swimming naked in public....That is unless swimming in the nude poses heavier fines than swimming under the influence of alcohol.

angela sultana

Aug 12th 2010, 07:45

should swimming naked offend public morals now that urt dear nation is becoming european and dying to introduce divorce!!!!
I recall divorce goes against our catholic principles.

Victor Vella

Aug 12th 2010, 06:49

Let`s chant the Maltese hym lill-din l-art helwa.... For swiming naked in the early hours of the morning one is jailed and for corruption nobody is jailed. It`s true-il-forka ghall-isvinturat. Continue chanting ..hares Mulej kif dejjem int harist.

Judy vassallo

Aug 12th 2010, 06:11

How petty police spending time worrying about nude bathers. What about the poor elderly people who are getting bashed and tied up in their own homes. Authorities have their priorities all wrong and society need to let them know.

Adrian Schembri

Aug 12th 2010, 05:51

Well what they had on show couldn't have bee more conspicuous than the Luqa monument could it? COULD IT???!?!?

Diana Borg Cardona

Aug 12th 2010, 02:11

As usual our police force go over the top when they are dealing with foreigners. I agree that there are students to misbehave & make a row in residential areas in the middle of the night & this should be dealt with in a sensible way; ie giving them a warning & maybe a fine on the spot for disturbing the peace and they won't repeat their mistake.
But a suspended sentence for skinny dipping is ridicullous. I've heard of middle ged (usually German) women taking off their clothes and swimming during the day in Mellieha & this went un-noticed.
But what I would like to know is how many times have the police taken young men on a stag night out to court & given them a similar sentence for striping the bridegroom-to-be naked on a beach when drunk in the early hours of the mornin?. I've even heard of them abandoning the unfortunate young man & making off with his clothes & car keys, yet not once have I heard of this ending up with the Maltese youths in court for offending public morals.

Karl Consiglio

Aug 12th 2010, 02:09

Sorry but if there was no sign that they can't skinny dip then they are free to go, same goes with many other things.

NBorg

Aug 12th 2010, 00:50

Does anyone know whether these delinquents will be given a grace period to come up with a fine of such magnitude?

And can "the authorities" reassure the public that the steep rise in Chlamydia of late is not a direct consequence of wild and uncontrolled skinny dipping?

The article was a great read, but some of the comments are even better. How soon before someone opens a Facebook group organising a mass skinny dip at St George's?

Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Aug 12th 2010, 00:13

Offending public morals? I thought we were all created in God's image! Really, when will our Maltese society grow up? Is it any wonder that Malta's youth are leaving the island in droves. Malta is a society designed for the maladjusted elderly who think the world revolves aroiund them, their religion and their country. Little do they know.

Daniel Vella

Aug 11th 2010, 23:56

Come on! It's not like we Maltese never skinny-dipped

Philip Hili

Aug 11th 2010, 23:55

Min jikser il-ligi ghandu jiehu dak li haqqu. Nahseb li dawk kollha li qeghdin johduha kontra l-gustizzja ghax dawn iz-zewg studenti ippertendew li jigu hawn Malta u jghamlu li jridu, sejrin zball. Ghala? Ghax kieku dawn it-talin li qed johduha kontra l-gustizzja jmorru Spajna u jiksru l-ligi ma nahsibx li ser johorg b'xejn.

Joseph Schembri

Aug 11th 2010, 23:41

Heqq, mela insejtuh dan l-artiklu l-gimgha l-ohra:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100729/local/a-beach-to-love-at-first-dive

X'tort ghandhom imsieken....

A Cremona

Aug 11th 2010, 23:07

One has to live in Paceville to know how annoying these so called students are. Those who live in Paceville, St Julians etc who need to catch an early bus to go to work have to wake up with a load of Spanish singing and chanting roaming around as soon as the buses start working. Not only, you would be lucky to find a place on a bus!

jcamilleri

Aug 11th 2010, 22:59

Ejja nhallu 'l kulhadd jghum gharwien. modernizmu, le? Halluna.
Prosit lill-pulizija u lill-Magistrat.

chantal sciberras

Aug 11th 2010, 22:46

its was 5.20 am in the morning for god sake!! who did they offend? the passing shark maybe! its a bit of drunk fun...... taking them to court, how silly doesn't our justice system have anything better to do!!

Jaycee Sullivan

Aug 11th 2010, 22:41

OMG - What a disgrace. Naked. Naked I tell you! At 5:20 in the morning.
Didn't the Boy in Blue have anything better to do than defend the Island's morality at that time of the morning.

A Cardona

Aug 11th 2010, 22:24

pls keep these stories coming!! The island of stand up comedians!! =D

Have had enough of hearing about natural disasters,wars,hold ups and taxes. Since Paul the Octopus we need something to make us smile and laugh again on the news! =D These stories are perfect!

Muchas gracias amigos!

Mark Vella Bardon

Aug 11th 2010, 22:07

Fast track court for this nonsense ... while perpetrators of animal cruelty as well as other more serious crimes have yet to be charged, let alone sentenced!
Just as well that there were no sharks around other than the police.
I wonder if the divers were brought in to capture the evidence on camera ...

S Zammit

Aug 11th 2010, 22:00

Very huge problem indeed. Wouldn't a small show by a police officer onsite have achieved the same result?

Kurt Saliba

Aug 11th 2010, 21:59

U hallina, issa illum rajt mara minajr il-flokk tghum, ghanna ingibuwa fuq it-times u ntellawa il-qorti ukoll?

U fil-5am qas li kien hemm bahar mimli

Robert Callus

Aug 11th 2010, 20:50

What I find disturbing is the fact that while the Court is wasting time on these absurd victimless 'crimes', we read in this same newspaper about a person who has been waiting (under arrest) for nearly 10 YEARS for a crime he is still not found guilty of.

Many drug addicts are working on their rehabilitation, building everything from scratch but know something. One day, whenever that will be they have no idea, they will be tried, possibly ending up in prison. They can't really plan their life, the Courts might take years to try them. They are too contemplating the sentence of naked night swimmers.

R.Borg

Aug 11th 2010, 20:13

5.20 a.m. and still outside.
WHAT A ROTTEN SOCIETY!

Gerry Cowie

Aug 11th 2010, 19:47

I am surprised they don't fine new babies for being naked at birth!

B.Attard

Aug 11th 2010, 19:26

Hafna fuss fuq cucata. Il-pulizija ahjar jaraw min imur jizgassa l-bibien tax-xjuh , jsawwathom, jorbothom u jisraqhom ghax dis-siegha din it-tip ta' kriminalita regghet gholiet rasha. Imma b'xi hmerija bhal din irridu naghmlu FUSS shieh.

MBorg

Aug 11th 2010, 19:08

Touche, very bad English. I changed part of that sentence before I hit the submit button. How about " you must be really proud of yourselves " much better I must say

If we have to pick hairs " if you dont like it ....you dont see it " the trouble is if you are not blind you will still see it , like it or not. However - if you dont like it .... dont look at it .Get it ?

You told me to lighten up. the way you wrote makes one think that we have to put on shades when close to you. All that light can harm our eyes.

Timmy Farrugia

Aug 11th 2010, 18:51

I feel so much safer that these hard criminals have been dealt with before i might have had the misfortune of stumbling onto these two........ma xi skandlu!!!!! :) and lol at the police inspector "huge problem" if only that was the harshest crime taking place in Malta we d be living a much safer life!!!!

Ivan Scicluna

Aug 11th 2010, 18:50

Am I paying taxes to have the country attend to this crap? Can we concentrate on the many important things we have to do please?

R.Cauchi

Aug 11th 2010, 18:39

It's not OK to go for a dip at 5.20am in your "birthday swimsuit" and you'll get a jail term suspended for offending public morals, but then it's perfectly legal and OK to let off aerial explosives very early in the morning scaring the wits out of young children, disturbing the terminally ill and the elderly. And you'll get a warning for being naughty and using violence to headbutt somebody you don't like. Yes in Malta we've got our priorities absolutely right!

I love Malta, never a boring moment.......

sandra camilleri

Aug 11th 2010, 18:35

dawn zgur ma bezawx mix-shark hahahahaha

James Attard

Aug 11th 2010, 18:30

I wonder whether I should laugh or cry when I hear about these court decisions...

Karl Consiglio

Aug 11th 2010, 18:28

Victor Pulis,

Dak Franciz kien

David Caruana

Aug 11th 2010, 18:11

"Police Inspector Nikolai Sant told the court that there was a huge problem at St George’s Bay, especially at night, when foreigners got drunk and swam naked."

Problem?! Where's the problem?!

gaffarena joseph

Aug 11th 2010, 17:57

I,do not like things like this in public, but there should be a nudist camp/beach,and it have to be private.
Recently an american tourist a friend of mine asked me about a nudist camp,and told her that the only nudist camp we have was in my swimming pool at home.

victor pulis

Aug 11th 2010, 17:46

Dak l-ispanjol li ta head butt lill Malti x'wehel?

victor pulis

Aug 11th 2010, 17:37

They were caught swimming in the nude.When I'm swimming only my head is above water so what's the big deal?!

MBorg

Aug 11th 2010, 17:30

@ all

What a modern progressive nation we have become. Reading most of the comments you really must be proud of ourselves. So very modern you see no wrong in anything.

Most do not agree that these two Spanish students were taken to court, some went as far as making fun of the police and the Magistrate for taking action.

The police are right, these students must be stopped. They must be told that there are rules that must be followed and that they must show some form of decency. They must not be allowed to turn our beaches into a place where anything goes. They use our beaches instead of toilets, they make love , vomit and leave all the rubbish you can imagine behind.. Is this modern enough for you ?

I may be different to the ones who are in favour, but believe me, I see nothing modern in this practice infact their actions make me sick. The police should petrol these beaches more often

S. Vella

Aug 11th 2010, 17:22

Here we go again - in the news for the wrong reasons. This nearly tops the Mosta mannequins story!

It's ironic that in my teens (late 1980's), skinny dipping was ever so popular with the Maltese youngsters as well. Today, I smile when I think of so many upstanding well-to-do middle-aged Maltese citizens while I remember them cavorting naked at Golden Bay after some party.

From my limited experience, only the sex obsessed find anything wrong with skinny dipping in the early morning. The rest just join or wished they joined in the fun. I know I did some two decades ago!

Claire Busuttil

Aug 11th 2010, 17:19

We`ve heard every kind of news this summer from tourist, most of them.....if not all, were negative, and are giving a bad picture to Maltese Tourism standard.

@Law - 100 euros, is a joke, they broke the law, have not respected Malta, and so they deserved a more harsh punishment!! Even to give an example!

Justin Gerald Saliba

Aug 11th 2010, 17:16

Do Students that come from abrode to study English ? I don't think so thay come to malta for partying sex and more... I work in pacevill.. and at 6am you can see the students still out drunk ! yesterday ( 10/07/2010 ) I have seen a fight at 6am with a student and a maltise !

Philip Serracino Inglott

Aug 11th 2010, 17:14

Something similar happed to some friends of mine here in the Netherlands.
A group of Spanish guys got drunk celebrating the end of studies for one of them, and made some racket. The police appeared on the scene gave them a stern warning, and advised them that having no lights on the bikes they would have to leave them where they were and walk home. One of them was a bit more drunk, and ignoring the police he decided to urinate on a corner. The police immediately took this guy to the station, and fined him a similar amount on the spot. Since he did not have the money, the police drove him to an ATM, and after he had paid the fine they drove him to rejoin his friends.
100 Euros is not too much for breaking the law against skinny dipping in a public place. (St. Gorge's bay isn't what you'd would call 'secluded')
Involving a Magistrate and a suspend jail term, that is driving pins with a pneumatic hammer!

A.Attard

Aug 11th 2010, 17:02

hah! everybody is talking about medieval Malta because our country does not accept such behaviour but what about us Maltese we are never fined or put to jail for skinny dipping,is it because of our MEDIEVAL VALUES ,we are not very much advanced now are we?

Robert Calafato

Aug 11th 2010, 17:02

Yeah, whats wrong with swimming naked in St. George's Bay? I mean it's such a secluded, away from it all beach with nobody in sight for kilometers and kilometers!!! In fact we should start advertising the place as the perfect place for swimming naked!!

Karl Consiglio

Aug 11th 2010, 16:59

@Joseph Aquilina,

So as to cater for those who might wish to bath naked, thats why, its really not much to ask for.

mary Pace

Aug 11th 2010, 16:47

isit 05,20 am or is it during the day, if they broke the law, they pay. because the law is for you, me & everyone, so yes they shouldnt been naked swimming!! I'm glad they got fined ,pity it wasn't more ,& all those blokes ( because it looks like more blokes ,then women wrote here) who wrote here & are not agaisn't these students, maybe you all jealous ,maybe you want to go skinny dipping!!

Grace Borg

Aug 11th 2010, 16:41

No!!!! Just €100 for such an unbelievably lewd act?...

Swimming naked? - Exceptionally criminal!!!
At St Georges Bay? - Shocking!!!
And at 5:00 am? - Utterly Obscene!!!

How could these students be so inconsiderate? I could have been exposed to the mortal risk of scandalizing my delicate, chaste and innocent 65 year-old eyes with their round, rosy, cheeky, Spaniard cheeks!

Such people should be locked away for good... One month of imprisonment is a joke!

I demand nothing less than LIFE imprisonment, in a high security prison, in solitary confinement, and naked in a bath full of fresh Pelagia Jellyfish - and with no right for appeal!
....and yes, I nearly forgot - OFF with their appendages! They won't be needing them anyway.

----
Charles Dickens once wrote: "the law is an ass"...
I guess he meant this in more ways than one!

Ray Buttigieg

Aug 11th 2010, 16:40

this story beats the one over the weekend of a 49 year old guy found guilty and given a suspended sentence for having in possession one exstacy pill at a rave party. Surely the police have nothing better to do and the court time can not be utilised better. Come on guys go catch the big pushers roaming around places of power and prestiage and stop the criminals robbing our old age pensioners.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 11th 2010, 16:31

Of course it is a joke! We are making ourselves the laughing stock of the whole of Europe, if not the whole world!
Look at that sentence, even if suspended: jailed for one month and fined! My goodness!

L Buhagiar

Aug 11th 2010, 16:28

Offending public morals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in Paceville at 0520 hrs??. Is this a joke or has the police and court lost their sense of perspective. Give us a break please.

Alexander Pace Gouder.

Aug 11th 2010, 16:27

I do not wish to go into the merits of these two boys swimming naked. Yes there is a real big Problem on this beach mainly from 0.30hrs to 6.00hrs.(AM) What if someone ends up DROWNED. Most of these youngsters are Half Drunk. Under the French Boys news item of today I have put forward a suggestion which follows: Police Petrols (Male and Female) and Local Council (Wardens) Plain Clothed but having proof of their identity patrol the area( in a good number not two) and stop politely anyone who is not obeying the Laws or not behaving as a human being. (You all understand what i mean). This is not a case of "QED NITKAZAW" but to keep this BLUE FLAG BAY in the clean state it deserves and mostely for the safety of these foreign students and also our youngsters. (Some Photos of the MESS left behind taken by your Photographer following what goes on in the St.Georges Bay area and nearby streets including the St..Julians Promanade will definitly end up filling two pages or more and which will proof and show the mess left behind.) These should be taken by6.00am before cleaning starts. GIVE IT A TRY.

J.Tonna

Aug 11th 2010, 16:26

Nirringrazzja lil www.timesofmalta.com ta' dawn il-jokes li qed jirnexxielna naraw il-hin kollu - ikun xi jkun is-suggett tal-ahbar.

Charles Clews kien qal: 'Jekk trid tghix hajja twila hu c-cajt bis-serjeta' u s-serjeta' bic-cajt', u hekk qed jaghmlu certi kontributuri hawnhekk.

Donnu li skop taghhom hu biss li jew jipprovaw jghaddu z-zmien b'xi hadd jew li jaraw isimhom fuq in-net.

Hafna kontribuzzjonijiet bla sens. Keep it up, keep us laughing.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 11th 2010, 16:24

But are we going crazy in this country? Taking to court a couple of guys because they swam naked in the middle of the night, at the seaside? What's next? Burning at the stake?
But do we realise what message we are giving? To take a stiff stand against alcohol abuse is one thing, but for God's sake, to fine students for swimming naked, is CRAZY.
'Huge problem', indeed! Why doesn't the Police stop turning a blind eye at the one thousand and one crimes taking place in our society on a daily basis?
'Remedy the situation'? There are so many, far worse situations that need remedying, gentle lady magistrate.
These are youngsters! Read it again: young-sters!
Our own youngsters would do the same thing outside our shores - the difference is that you oldies, parents, wouldn't (want to) know about it! The difference is that the Police, abroad, are more busy getting the real criminals than these!
Give over, folks! This country has become so bloody boring!
The authorities would do much better to appeal to these youngsters not to swim while under the influence of drink! THAT is what our priority should be, and what should be remedied!

D SMITH

Aug 11th 2010, 16:23

I really cant believe this, jailing people for having a laugh, For the people that are against this would be the people that wouldn't be out at 5am they would be tucked up in bed with there loved ones, so if u cant see it why judge?! im 25 and yeah i go to paceville i see MALTESE people having sex in doorways but that doesn't bother me cause ur only young once and will only live once to to hell with it, There is alot worse things going on in the world than this.

D. Farrugia

Aug 11th 2010, 16:19

If there is a law on this issue then it has to be respected, but for crying out loud jailing them for one month is way out of order! Free these guys NOW! If the authorities are serious enough on this issue the least they should do is have multilingual notices affixed on these beaches clearly stating that nudism is against the law. It's true that ignorance of the law does not justify anything, but I see nothing wrong in having such signs strategically placed. Far worse crimes have been committed and the perpetrator walked out as a free person. This is too much!!

D.Galea

Aug 11th 2010, 16:10

The human body.... uh SO disgusting!!!!

M Agius

Aug 11th 2010, 16:06

All in the name of public morals. Who's public morals? How are public morals defined? We're assuming that everyone is Catholic?

Why don't we have an authorized naturist beach?

Gerard Cassar

Aug 11th 2010, 15:56

Many years ago, boys used to swim naked at il-Fossa Valletta just below Saint Elmo. Nobody ever thought to call the police.

C Attard

Aug 11th 2010, 15:55

whats so wrong with swimming as nature intended?.lots of dirty smutty minds around. surely there's better and more important things to be on the lookout for.

D.Bonello

Aug 11th 2010, 15:49

This happens almost every night when students do their needs in the street alongside St. Georges beach, swim naked, fights, vandalism, and worst of all, they leave a huge rubbish dump everywhere. Justice here seems to be only for Maltese people. I've seen a policeman giving a fine to a maltese boy for throwing a cigarette filter tip, which im not justifying in any way. But for foreigners its DO AS YOU PLEASE. We need more police patrol especially next to St. Georges bay.

Matthew vella

Aug 11th 2010, 15:45

ahna il-maltin, inriduha ta nies avvanzati hafna, imbaghad mohna ghadu jghix fi zmien kristu!

david farrugia

Aug 11th 2010, 15:40

didn't know that our archaic laws also apply beneath the waves.

B. Zammit

Aug 11th 2010, 15:38

Does this means we can cross out St. George's Bay for the blockbuster sequel of "Free Willie"?

Gavin Ellul

Aug 11th 2010, 15:38

Nazzjon ta' nies ghorrief ahna, nazzjon ta' nies li jgergru biss, u li dejjem jafu x'inhu l-ahjar Alla jberikkom! Min ghandu bzonn ligijijet, jew kodici tal-etika, jekk tista' tigi fil-pagna tal-kummenti tat-times u taqra' l-ligijiet kif ghandhom ikunu! ammettu intom stess, li ssibu thrill fil-ksur ta ligi!

M Degiorgio said "a couple of students having a good time in the sea, minding their own business" - is breaking the law having a good time for you? Were they minding their own business breaking the law and indecently exposing themselves? Laws are there to be respected.
He also contrived to question the police actually doing their job!! Are you saying that if the policemen happened to be patrolling the beach at that moment, they should not have stopped the youngsters?!

And another thing - breaking the law at five in the morning, or at two in the afternoon, or eight at night always counts as breach of law!

But don't you worry, we're always a 'stupid, prehistoric, catholic country', no? We should be ashamed we're maltese! We should be ashamed we have laws that conserve our dignity! Imbghad gergru jekk tikber il-pedofelija u ammont ta single mothers!

Vincent Galea

Aug 11th 2010, 15:30

Stressful jobs and stressful lifestyles are the best incentive to throw aside your clothes along with your cares and get away from it all.
Perhaps it is the ultimate in stress busting activity.

P.Scicluna

Aug 11th 2010, 15:23

The police noticed 2 young boys swimming naked and did not notice young students watching poll dancing, they did not notice that bars are still selling alcahol at 4 am even up to 9 am. Go in the Havana area Sunday morning at 9 am and you see people coming out from nightclub.
Weldone police but no fuss about these 2 kids there is much more to watch, and to avoid these young kids being exploited while on holiday.

D. Attard

Aug 11th 2010, 15:17

Seriously, I think that jailing a person for 1 month, being suspended for a year and a fine is WAY too much for swimming naked!

There are so many who did far worse and criminal deeds and got way less than they deserved.

Marija Brincat

Aug 11th 2010, 15:16

X;gharukaza! F'hiex wasalna f'dan il-pajjiz! Nispera li l-kappillan ta' San Giljan ma jiddejjaqx jghamel poster fuq iz-zuntier dwar in-nudizmu.

Joseph Aquilina

Aug 11th 2010, 15:16

Since it is a public beach these individuals broke the law and therefore the police did the right action to take them in. Unfortunately some with their comments show how little respect they have for each other. Although you and me might find nothing wrong in seeing someone naked on a public beach, there are those who do, and there could also be minors. Therefore it does not make it right just because YOU don’t mind!! All should remember that we live in a society … a group of people (with different opinions) living together.

Bernard Mamo

Aug 11th 2010, 15:10

NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!

oh come on people what a bunch of bored naives you are! Who has never heard of skinny dipping? Min m'ghandux dnub iwaddab l-ewwel gebla! Xi dwejjaq ta pajjiz m'hemmx li tinbidel il generazzjoni ta' mdejqin...

Stefan Muscat Doublesin

Aug 11th 2010, 15:07

Seriously?! Is this the 21st or the 12th century??

Also reading the below comments, I am increasingly alarmed by the amount of ToM readers that fail to recognise sarcasm when the see it!

J Abela

Aug 11th 2010, 15:05

Good....I'm going to organize a skinny-dipping party at St.George's bay next weekend.

Charles Sammut

Aug 11th 2010, 15:03

What perverse morals! Didn't God create Man in His own image? So what is offensive about the human body? It is only a dirty, smutty mind that sees immorality in the naked body.

And don't the police have better things to do than peeping on the beaches just in case someone goes skinny-dipping? What a sad country.

david debattista

Aug 11th 2010, 15:00

So that 's what it looks like.....................Loooooo!

wally vella-zarb

Aug 11th 2010, 14:58

Why pick on two young skinny-dippers? I would say that, with a name like PRAT, the poor boy already has enough problems in his life!

Malachy Portelli

Aug 11th 2010, 14:55

Where these guys that swam naked? cause it looks like it..i wouldn't imagine a beautiful spanish girl being arrested for swimming naked..and if they really want to do their job seriously they should punish every guy that walks without a shirt on the pavement because if what those two did was 'unnatural' as some people quoted then thats topless as well..the problem here is malta is sooo soooo like the old times it just sucks!

G. Saliba

Aug 11th 2010, 14:52

Swimming naked! I cant even bear to be naked in the shower. I was even born with underwear on (and I'm not talking about thongs either). Swimming naked - what disgusting 'people'.
Let us all appeal to the authorities to immediately condemn this appalling behavior and deploy the army to prevent this corruption of public morals from spreading.

J. Borg

Aug 11th 2010, 14:51

dear magistrate, would have done a better job, if you had fined the police for bring up just a case!

The police evidently either have distorted priorities or conveniently close both eyes to the serious drug and violence problem around them!

Bogdan Cilia

Aug 11th 2010, 14:51

Hahahaha !! Never would have imagined in a thousand years that there was a law in malta ie ...''if you swim naked @ 5am you'll get a year in prison suspended to one month'' !!!! Is this country serious?!!!! This keeps of showing us how retarded our country is !!!

C.Borg

Aug 11th 2010, 14:46

So ashamed to be Maltese! Couldn't these morality police give just a warning, which in fact was not needed anyway!

Malta needs new laws, new political party and a new police force!

JOHN O SCERRI

Aug 11th 2010, 14:44

hehehe.......Did the police get a TIP OFF?

OK...... Blue flag beach .........so ...........they assumed there were no JELLY FISH and decided to dangle their rods in safety.

Maria Vella

Aug 11th 2010, 14:41

I bet that all those who felt so offended had a good look at the students before reporting them. Speak of Il-Malti dejjaq

Christopher Cutajar

Aug 11th 2010, 14:41

The problem isn't whether they were naked or not, but how much did they drink. Swimming drunk, obviously, isn't safe at all. Especially in the dark.

George Debono

Aug 11th 2010, 14:38

What's the big deal?

At least swimming naked doesn't cause pollution.

"Offending public morals" ?????

Gosh ! this is the 21st century! It takes more than the odd bit of exposed marriage tackle to "offend public morals".

G

Karl Consiglio

Aug 11th 2010, 14:38

Malta deserves at least one authorized nudist beach.

T. Krysto

Aug 11th 2010, 14:35

I don't understand the problem with swimming naked - who gets offended? And especially at 5 in the morning!? After the divorce issue Malta should start to discuss skinny dipping ;-)

GVella

Aug 11th 2010, 14:29

While we threaten youngsters with jail for a bit of night-time skinny dipping, over 100 Britons of all ages bared all and took a nude roller-coaster ride this week to raise money for a cancer charity - see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-10907944

VV Bartolo

Aug 11th 2010, 14:26

lately every day foreign students' bad behaviour is hitting the head lines. we, at qawra, are also experiencing similar behaviours. almost every night, in the early morning hours we are being disrupted from our sleep by their shouting, screaming & singing loudly in the middle of the road. not to mention the vandalism they do to the parked cars (twisting of side mirrors @ wipers) and now also untying boats from their buoys, go for a ride, then let them loose. immediate action has to be taken to control these students before some tragedy takes place as now they're going over the limit!!

jane camilleri haber

Aug 11th 2010, 14:25

almost everybody who commented seem to think that ; requiring a decent amount of clothing in public amounts to medieval mentality and a sense of not being european enough. so we need to drag ourselves even further up our timeline to reach stone-age.... but let's see.....no even there we see a few bits of sheepskin mended together to cover the most vulnerable parts of man.... we need to go further up..........and..... ah yes here we are. The place where most people think we should be fits snugly within the timeline when our ancestors did not as yet conceive themselves to be different from the rest of the animal kingdom enough to deem it fit for themselves to put together that few pieces of clothing.....and we say we're modern!!

E.Ciantar

Aug 11th 2010, 14:23

What was the big deal with Pol showing his Prat in public?

C Gatt

Aug 11th 2010, 14:20

The police inspector is right: there is a huge problem in st George;'s Bay and St Julian's and that problem is the police.

They are understaffed but more importantly untrained, ill-mannered and treat people with little or no respect.

Should it come as a surprise that some people get drunk in Paceville? No.,

Are there ways of handling the situation without this becoming a court case? Absolutely yes.

As to offending public morals. How much public would there have been at 5.20 in the morning to have their morals offended?. In fact i doubt if there was enough light to 'see the evidence' even if there were.

These kids have a suspended sentence of a month in jail. A month! for a bit of skinny dipping. We really have lost all sense of proportion and we can thank our crappy lawmakers for that.

As for those who are calling for even harsher penalties. If you have never gone skinny dipping, you really should give it a try, Life is so much more relaxing afterwards. :)

charles grima

Aug 11th 2010, 14:15

All in the name of our Catholic Island! Then we wonder if we are third world or not!

Ironically you will find Maltese holidaying abroad naked. The same people don't just do it in Malta for fear of gossip.

I think that everyone has a right to do what they want

Joe E Galea

Aug 11th 2010, 14:12

The police should rather use their resources to catch criminals like those who bound and robbed that old lady today. These actions scare tourists away. Come on people we are not an extremist muslim country. We should supposedly be open-minded Europeans...hmmm...stop dreaming!! I feel ashamed to be Maltese when these things happen.

d.attard

Aug 11th 2010, 14:12

what a sad country and spectacle seeing the unilateral demand for power over mind stifle the spirit of youth...the good thing about it is that no one can now hide behind bushes. What is happening is there for all to see. It is now a case of the 'inquisition' vs life. And the 'inquisition' has all the fire-power.

A Grech

Aug 11th 2010, 14:11

First of its kind being reported as far as I recall. There must have been a novice policeman doing the beat...His colleagues who have been watching over the nudes for so many years now must not be too happy ;p

Students do far more damage when walking home at night; shouting, breaking things, urinating all over the place, etc... (priorities and easy-to-do things are getting confused)

Let them be...which PUBLIC morals are we on about if NO PUBLIC is up at such an unearthly hour!!!

j. xerri

Aug 11th 2010, 14:10

Probaly this case would serve to attract more people to visit St George's Bay in the early hours of the morning, adding another problem to the police who would have to keep away the curiousity seekers from the swimmers.

Daniel Spiteri

Aug 11th 2010, 14:07

I just understand what kind of 'offence' there is here. Is just a few teens having fun, and with all due respect this is not happening during daylight when young kids are around. All I can say is that people on this rock need to lighten up BIG TIME!!! If they are harming nobody then leave them be!

joseph grima

Aug 11th 2010, 14:05

I personally find it much easier to believe the huge problem for the police was in the policemen's pants. imma possibli bqajna daqsekk lura. whats so wrong with bathing naked anyway ?.were we clothed when we were brought into this world ? if bathing naked offends other people then its the other people who have the problem and should just walk away and choose not to look. sometimes i think stories like this are made up on purpose to entertain us cause i really do find them funny. shame on the court for even taking the time out to listen to such a ridiculous case. all i can say is jahasra kemm mghandomx xjghamlu il puizia to the point that they spend their time criusing where they are bound to come across a young student or two bathing naked. Jahasra jahasra i feel sorry for this island..ever going backward instead of forward..gejjin bil petition....get a life please .

r ferriggi

Aug 11th 2010, 14:03

i have a feeling we hve found another gold mine,,,, like the speed cameras.

only in malta.

WHO SAID we do not have drillng wells?? he only difference is that w do not need to drill deep.

J.Camilleri

Aug 11th 2010, 13:56

Make them pay higher fines. At least the hofra may take a sigh!

J Micallef

Aug 11th 2010, 13:51

...don't the police have better things to do? Who precisely was offended by two students swimming naked in the dark? U halluna! Wake up Malta!

Jeremy N Grech

Aug 11th 2010, 13:51

Malta's medieval laws back in action \m/

John Hughes

Aug 11th 2010, 13:48

Sometimes moments like this make me embarrassed to say that I’m Maltese. Makes one wonder if we are still living in the dark ages, taking two students to court for skinny dipping in the dark??? What a joke and we call ourselves Europeans? The judge should have fined the inspector for wasting his time and tax payer’s money.
What our country need is a young political party to put an end to this nonsense.

Ronald Cauchi

Aug 11th 2010, 13:46

Chop off their appendages I say. That will teach the hordes of Northern barbarians to respect our culture and sense of values, not to mention the fact that they must have upset our policemen and policewomen who had to face their exposed nether regions at such an unearthly hour. SHOCK! SHOCK! HORROR! HORROR!

Paul Barrett

Aug 11th 2010, 13:46

Apart from skinny dipping, it is about time that we sorted out this sexist thing on topless sunbathing, it is disgusting the amount of men just wondering around without tops on. Just when are the Police going to do something about this indecent exposure - arrest the offenders, take them to Court - at Euro 100 a time, the deficit will soon disappear.

E Gatt

Aug 11th 2010, 13:44

Yes the hospital emergency wards are inundated with students suffering from severe moon burnt backsides.

George Cutajar

Aug 11th 2010, 13:41

@ Adrian Agius - what petition would you like to have signed? Do you realise that these language schools are bringing in foreign currency to the Island? Do you realise the employment of locals they generate? Do you appreciate the fact that these foreign students, although a small minority do cause problems, come to Malta and part with their parents' hard earned money? Do you realise that many hotels depend on their custom as do many Maltese host families?
As for these two pranksters I honestly see nothing so drastically wrong in their action to warrant capital punshment as being suggested. Spaniards did the same thing in the madrid fountains a month ago.
As for the problem in Saint George's Bay the Police are doing their best to keep good order and peace but then one should accept the fact that students on holiday tend to go a little bit over the drinking limit. After all they are on holiday.

alfred filletti

Aug 11th 2010, 13:39

Why don't the police see the aggressive and abusive behavior of certain bouncers with innocent people particularly those guarding the Havana club?!! That should be considered as a serious matter if they really want to do their duty diligently.

daniel cuschieri

Aug 11th 2010, 13:37

@ c.zammit.

idahhaqx nies bik ' bil kick them out of the country' these were just youths enjoying themselves, they have paid the fine therefore, they owe the country nothing and they can continue enjoying the summer here in malta

Derek Fenech

Aug 11th 2010, 13:36

Taliban in the Mediterranean

L. Gatt

Aug 11th 2010, 13:36

xejn sew ma jsir f dal pajjiz e! there are many, many other things that police should be doing instead of bugging people from living their life..

victor pulis

Aug 11th 2010, 13:36

Perhaps that's why this beach was awarded the blue flag!

Daniel Cuschieri

Aug 11th 2010, 13:31

@ c.zammit.

idahhaqnix nies bik ' bil kick them out of the country' these were just youths enjoying themselves, they have paid the fine therefore, they owe the country nothing and they can continue enjoying the summer here in malta.

Charles Micallef

Aug 11th 2010, 13:30

A bit over the top i would dare to say, considering the time of day!

A good telling off from the Police would have sufficed, instead of wasting Court and Police time, no wonder the Courts are overloaded with silly cases!

M Degiorgio

Aug 11th 2010, 13:30

The only huge problem in St George's bay is the huge amount of public space taken over by restaurants and bars, a couple of students having a good time in the sea, minding their own business, do not constitute a "huge problem"! The police should be patrolling the back roads stopping the vandalism on the residents cars and facades, not hanging around the beach hoping to catch someone with their pants down!

gcForte

Aug 11th 2010, 13:29

Consider the time, the age and that they are foreign students, the punishment is a farce. A 100 euros fine was adequate right, but to dirty their conduct by mentioning jail,which is going to be shown all their life, is a stupid thing. At that age is normal to do so, even to make your friends laugh. I am sure that by that time there warn`t children around, even so, today nudism is not a taboo, like when we use to have the Ghonnella. If you go to a place called " il qarruba " you will know what I mean.

Andrew Azzopardi

Aug 11th 2010, 13:26

If only the 'huge problems' Malta and the world are facing were students skinny-dipping in the middle of the night........

adrian agius

Aug 11th 2010, 13:25

Can some sort of petition be organised against language schools????

And please don't tell me that these hooligans aren't here to 'LEARN' english but to appreciate our culture !!!!!

Robert Ciappara

Aug 11th 2010, 13:25

Oh the horror! Swimming naked!!!

Yes - that's quite the biggest problem there is in that area... Really proud of the way the taxpayer's money is being spent ;(

C.Sammut

Aug 11th 2010, 13:24

Oh just let them have their youth fun... if anyone is up and ogling at 5.2am then its their problem..

Brian Maloret

Aug 11th 2010, 13:22

Naughty, naughty foreign students for doing something so natural in Malta which would probably have gone unnoticed and unpunished in other EU states especially when the incident happened at 5.20 in the morning.

C Zammit

Aug 11th 2010, 13:17

well done, even though i woud have fined them more and kicked them out of the country!!!

Joe Fountain

Aug 11th 2010, 13:16

A huge problem for the police!! Hahahahahahaha