Man fined for illegal dumping in Kalkara valley

A litterbug, who was caught on CCTV using his cousin’s car to dump burnt oil in a valley, has been slapped with a hefty fine after he admitted to disposing of waste illegally.

Inspector Josric Mifsud arraigned 36-year-old Matthew Calleja, from Zabbar, before Magistrate Doreen Clarke this morning, on multiple littering and illegal waste-dumping charges.

CCTV footage of Calleja disposing of plastic bottles full of burnt oil in Wied Għammieq, limits of Kalkara, had been aired on a television news bulletin yesterday.

The area had been equipped with cameras to clamp down on illegal waste disposal. Hundreds of tons of illegally-dumped waste would be collected from the site by Cleaning Directorate every year.

Also present in the courtroom was the owner of the car, Simon Azzopardi, who is Calleja’s cousin. The accused had reportedly asked him to lend him his car to transport some items, which the accused had not identified.

The court, in view of the statement released by Azzopardi denying knowledge of the purpose for which his car was being and the fact that the prosecution had not insisted on proceeding against him, released the owner without charge. The vehicle was not seized.

On the advice of his lawyer, Jesmond Manicaro, Calleja pleaded guilty and was fined €2,330.