Updated: Man found illegally exporting songbirds
A Libyan man was condemned to a six month jail term suspended for a year after he admitted today to animal cruelty when he tried to export 157 song birds from Malta to Libya.
The case happened early this morning.
Ben Mohamed Salim, 33, was arrested at the airport after the birds were found crammed in 10 small boxes in luggage. The birds were carefully hidden under frozen organic material such as pet food which calmed the birds, but they were discovered by MIA security staff.
Two of the birds died but the rest survived.
Magistrate Myriam Hayman also fined the accused €233 and recommended that the birds should be handed to an animal sanctuary such as Razett tal-Hbiberija.
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17 Comments
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c.catania
Jan 5th 2011, 06:47
seems our courts are not so animal friendly.such a poor law.money for nothing
Kyle Boffa
Jan 5th 2011, 01:28
€233? pajjiz tad dahq
Joe Xuereb
Jan 5th 2011, 00:51
One has to look at the background to cases like this where an individual, who happens to be a Libyan, has been found guilty as charged.
To all those who adversely reacted to my comment, I am afraid you have not understood a thing. You're not all bird-killers are you by any chance? I mean, with seventeen thousand of these on our tiny islet, that is a fair guess I would say. Oh I forgot. Bird-killers - one does not touch their 'namra' (passion) for any reason. Poor Libyan! He was only trying to make a few bob.
Happy New Year to all. But not the birds. Their fate is sealed.
D. Pisani
Jan 4th 2011, 21:23
I would have fined our Libyan friend €233 per bird, not just a petty LM100 fine! Such atrocious injustices should be more harshly punished. Disgusting...
D Camilleri
Jan 4th 2011, 19:54
where did he get the songbirds from ? where they wild, trapped illegally?
p attard
Jan 4th 2011, 19:53
LM 100 fine for such a cruel act? Wy not try to put HIM in a small box instead,say for an hour? No wonder people are losing faith in our justice system!
B.attard
Jan 4th 2011, 17:45
alla hares kien nassab malti ax 233x?????
S.Agius
Jan 4th 2011, 15:55
Euro 233 fine ? suspended sentence ? is this the jokes section ?
mark sultana
Jan 4th 2011, 15:31
@ Franco Farrugia
Would like to point out that song birds caught from the wild will not be accepted in our animal park since the norm is to realease them in the wild. We will, however, assist any rehabilitation if the need arises.
Inspire
(The Eden and Razzett Foundation)
Franco Farrugia
Jan 4th 2011, 18:48
Since you have chosen to answer, perhaps, sir, you could be so kind as to tell us what improved facilities have been made in your institution, since the last time that very vulnerable animals were 'stolen'. Thank you in anticipation.
D. Mallia
Jan 4th 2011, 14:44
multa ta 233 EUR u sentenza sospiza??? dawn jafu minn xiex jghaddu dawn l-ghasafar? f hafna kazijiet (li anke graw ricenti malta) l ghasafar iraqqduhom bil gas tal lighters (gieli mijiet go bagalja) u gieli iktar minn nofshom imutu, imma xorta tkun worth ghax igibu prezz gholi f dawk il pajjizi. gustizzja sabiha eh saret! abbli qas ihossom 233 EUR. u leeee....mela dan deterrent jew??
Joe Xuereb
Jan 4th 2011, 14:03
What is a Libyan doing in Malta?
Is Libya a war-torn country? (the last time I looked, Libya had one big problem but war was not it).
Has he full right to reside in Malta through marriage?
Is he a tourist trying, and failing, to recoup his expenses by criminal/cruel activities?
IF he is NOT resident in Malta, what is the point of a suspended sentence (daft as that may be)?
Is the Maltese Legal system kow-towing to Libya in preparation for when Malta is kicked out of the EU(people, be careful what you pray for)? Many would be happy with this state of affairs. After all many Maltese have 'business investments' in Libya - it is said money talks! - and others still are abandoning their 'natural' religion and embracing the North African belief system. And they call this progress!
Can we have better reportage please so that I may be spared having to guess so many contingencies covering all possibilities explaining this felon's status in Malta, simply so that I may express an informed opinion. Thank you.
PS Don't we have enough home-bred bird-killers of our very own?
wally vella-zarb
Jan 4th 2011, 14:58
What are you on about? We have had Britons convicted of grievous bodily harm, stealing from hotels and yachts, and importing drugs. We have had Italians and French visitors convicted of similar crimes. Several Maltese have been convicted for criminal activity while abroad. No nationality is exempted from having criminals, our own included. So, are you suggesting that we ought to build a wall around our shores and live in a self-imposed apartheid?
Or perhaps you are merely allergic to people who are not evidently 'European',,,
Anthony Formosa
Jan 4th 2011, 15:42
@ Joe Xuereb, Well why not ask why these birds had to be exported in such a way with the risk of losing them?
PS: What I certainly know is that we have more countryside litters and racists.
Chris Finch
Jan 4th 2011, 19:04
Joe,
Is there any particular reason why in your opinion a Libyan cannot travel to Malta, just as Maltese people travel to Libya and indeed across the globe?
Nowhere does it say in the article that Mr Mohamed Salim is resident in Malta.
Following your argument, what are all teh Maltese people doing in the UK? In Australia, in Canada etc.
You have shown yourself up for the bigoted person you are.
One last note Joe, check your DNA, I would bet it is closer to Mr Mohamed Salim's than it is to a Northern European. Maybe he was just visiting his dark skinned, brown eyed black haired Maltese brothers.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 4th 2011, 14:03
Since when was Razzett tal-Hbiberija an animal sanctuary?
A Bonett
Jan 4th 2011, 13:48
€233 !??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??