A 24-year-old man was given a three months jail term suspended for a year and fined €1,000 after he admitted in court this afternoon to shooting and killing a protected bird yesterday.
Magistrate Aaron Bugeja heard Lee Grima, 24, of Zebbug admit to killing the protected bird, a Black-winged Stilt, in Qajjenza limits of Bizebbuga at about midday.
He also admitted carrying a loaded shotgun in an area where hunting was not allowed and within 200 metres from an inhabited area, and hunting during the closed season.
The magistrate noted that Mr Grima filed an early guilty plea, cooperated with the police and had apologised for his actions. He was a first time offender.
In these circumstances the court did not believe an effective jail term was appropriate.
The accused was given a suspended jail term and a fine. His shotgun was confiscated and his licence was suspended for two years.
Lawyer Chris Cilia represented Mr Grima.
Police Superintendent Mario Tonna and Inspector Jurgen Vella prosecuted.
SECOND ARRAIGNMENT EXPECTED
Meanwhile the government said a second suspect is being investigated and is expected to be charged shortly.
Law enforcement officials are also following other leads in their investigation of the shooting of protected storks on Sunday. The government appealed to members of the public who may have witnessed any incidents of illegal shooting to come forward with any information. Information may be reported to the police on telephone 112 or 119 as well as to Wild Birds Regulation Unit via email on wildbirds@gov.mt or on mob: 79496320. Any reports received will be treated in confidence.
"Abuses will not be tolerated and anyone caught violating the regulations will bear full brunt of the law," the government warned.
New legal amendments, announced yesterday, are expected to be brought into force over the coming days. Under these amendments, anyone found guilty of hunting or attempting to hunt, or taking or attempting to take any protected birds will, upon first conviction, receive a penalty of €5,000 fine, and / or imprisonment for one year, as well as permanent revocation of license and confiscation of corpus delicti. In case of second or subsequent offence, the applicable penalty will go up to €10,000, confiscation, and / or imprisonment for two years.
These measures represent a ten-fold increase in the presently applicable minimum fine for first time and subsequent offences, whilst permanent revocation of license, and imprisonment, which, at present, only apply to repeat offenders, will also apply in the case of a first time offence in such cases, the government said.
It appealed to all hunters to ensure strict observance of applicable hunting regulations, including reporting obligations, during the forthcoming spring hunting season for turtle dove and quail.
It warned that non-compliance with time and space restrictions, any illegal targeting of protected species, or non-compliance with SMS reporting obligations and special licence conditions will lead to repercussions not only on the individuals concerned, but on the entire hunting community, and will put the rights of legal hunters to enjoy their season in jeopardy.