WBRU breached protocol over bird importation, court told

Police inspector faints while questioned by lawyer Joseph M. Sammut over alleged clearance by WBRU to clear unlicensed hunting quarry from Customs

File photo of a cargo of birds hidden inside a suitcase
File photo of a cargo of birds hidden inside a suitcase

A police inspector needed medical treatment this morning after he collapsed whilst testifying about an internal police investigation into a police officer, who is alleged to have cleared the way for the unlicensed importation of birds killed on a hunting trip to Russia.

Inspector Justin Camilleri from the police internal investigations unit had been summoned to testify before Magistrate Antonio Vella in the case against Jean Pierre Coleiro, Eugenio Camenzuli, Victor Saliba and Roderick Galea, who returned from a hunting trip in Russia with the carcasses of 26 birds: four tufted ducks, one mallard, 17 long-tailed ducks, one magpie, one jay and two barnacle geese.

The witness had been summoned to testify about internal investigations into the actions of a police officer, who is believed to have organised the trip.

At the time of his collapse, Inspector Camilleri had been telling the court that the police had no remit on issues relating to import licences. Previous news reports say that officials from the Wild Birds Regulations Unit – a government department – had advised customs to release the birds.

A bystander gave the officer first aid until medical assistance arrived.

Sources told MaltaToday that the hunters had initially been stopped by Customs upon their return from Russia in October 2016, but were later allowed to keep the dead birds, after the WBRU intervened. It is effectively being alleged that the WBRU allowed the importation of birds in breach of its own rules, which had been enacted only a month before.

The trip was reported by the Times of Malta to have been organised by police constable and hunters’ lobby (FKNK) activist Richard Cilia, who was present in the courtroom today. Significantly, one of the defendants’ lawyers is Labour MP and hunting enthusiast Joe Sammut. If true, it would not be the first time that PC Cilia’s name had been mentioned in connection with a similar case – a hunting tour organised in 2008, MaltaToday’s report on which had led to an angry rebuttal from former deputy leader of the PL, Michael Falzon, who had taken part in that tour.

WBRU right of reply

This report insinuates that the WBRU allowed importation of wild birds “in breach of its own rules” and incorrectly alleges that the unit failed to carry out its duties or even abused its authority.

MaltaToday failed to inform its readers that the Unit is responsible for overseeing compliance with the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations (S.L. 549.42), which prohibits the importation of any bird specimen, or any Non-European territory bird, “whether alive or dead, or any part ... or derivative thereof, unless it was legally acquired in its country of origin or is captive bred, and in both cases the export of which has been authorised by the competent authorities responsible for the species’ protection in the country of origin”.

Although the guidance document available from the Unit’s website also mentions other legal requirements that may apply to importation, such as the requirement to have an import trade licence issued under the Importation Control Regulations (S.L. 117.14), the Unit is not responsible for ascertaining compliance with such other regulations which are overseen by other competent authorities.

Indeed WBRU guidance note which is referred in the article clearly states the following: "The aim of this Guidance Note is limited to the provisions of the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations (S.L. 549.42) and is without prejudice to other applicable legal requirements (CITES, Health, Veterinary Services, Customs, etc). The advice of and prior authorisation from other authorities should be sought, including CITES Office, the Department of Veterinary Services, Port Health and Customs. It is the importer’s responsibility to ensure that all necessary permits are obtained from these authorities."

It is incorrect to imply that on any occasion WBRU somehow did not fulfil its remit, which is not the case, as the Unit acted professionally and fully in line with applicable procedures and regulations for which it is responsible.

Stephanie Bonello, Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change