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Matthew Vella
Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg has confirmed with MaltaToday he was only made aware of a police memo instructing officers not to arraign individuals caught breaching hunting laws, after the memo was issued.
The controversial memo prompted the resignation of ornithologist Joe Sultana from the Ornis Committee.
Tonio Borg yesterday told MaltaToday his ministry had received an explanation from the Commissioner of Police after the publication of the memo, which he said was “reasonable”.
“It is not rare for the prosecution authorities to bide their time before charges re filed; even more so when the prescriptive period in these cases is two years,” Borg said.
He also told MaltaToday that if any current offence doesn’t remain a contravention, the charges are likely to be dropped: “it is only fair that charges should be submitted after such law is changed.”
The memo was issued the same day a group of hunters gathered outside the Office of the Prime Minister in protest. Inspector Alex Miruzzi issued a memo to Administrative Law Enforcement officers not to immediately arraign individuals trapping quails, golden plovers, turtle doves and thrushes; and to issue no charges against those hunting at sea with engines capable of developing speeds higher than 18km/hour.
Tonio Borg claimed the measure it was “evident… that this measure is temporary, and limited to a few of the ‘technical’ or less serious contraventions covered by law”, currently the subject of discussions between the hunters’ federation and the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment.
“There was never any intention of exempting anyone from the observance of any law; indeed the Police have made it abundantly clear that charges will be presented in Court if the regulations are not changed… this process should not take long, and the Police Commissioner has informed that charges will be filed in a few weeks’ time.”
Borg also said that police enforcement on hunting was “consistent and persistent”, saying that throughout the year, district police had arraigned 69 persons on hunting breaches, and 110 on breaches of trapping regulations.
mvella@mediatoday.com.mt
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