Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1035530
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 OCTOBER 2018 8 JAMES DEBONO THE widening of the Tal-Balal road network will entail the re- moval of a number of protected trees and the expropriation of approximately 8,000sq.m of ag- ricultural land which contains 11,547m3 of agricultural soil according to a Project Develop- ment Statement presented by Infrastructure Malta. The planning application was presented after the commence- ment of the works which are still being completed. On the basis of this preliminary study the Environment and Resources Authority has concluded that no Environment Impact Assess- ment is required. Trees impacted by the project include 20 cypress trees – 12 of which will be replanted, three almond trees and a carob tree. A project development pre- sented by Infrastructure Malta warns that a number of reser- voirs may be impacted by the project. "If such cases arise, it is recom- mended that these reservoirs are rebuilt in the same agricultural areas so that water harvesting is not affected by the proposal." Last month MaltaToday re- ported that a very old cistern built in the traditional vaulted way had been damaged by the works and had its ceiling re- placed. This stretch of road will be up- graded from the existing road into a dual carriageway with an 80cm central strip with vehicle restraint systems and improved street lighting provision. The central strip will be continuous along this stretch of road. The new design also allows for both right and left turning movements into the VC petrol station. The road scheme in question is described as a "considerable im- provement on the existing situ- ation which is characterised by frequent congestion along the whole route in question". New footpaths and pedes- trian crossings will connect Naxxar, Iklin, Gharghur and San Gwann. 8,000sq.m of agricultural land to be lost in Tal-Balal roadworks MATTHEW AGIUS A man who, days after physically attack- ing a sports journalist, was caught photo- graphing the same reporter at a football match, has been found guilty of stalking, amongst other offences. 45-year-old Francis Muscat from Pem- broke was accused of grievously injuring Antvin Monseigneur on 23 September 2017 near the Luxol Grounds. He is also accused of causing Monseigneur to fear he would be physically attacked, harass- ing him, insulting him and relapsing. During Muscat's arraignment, prose- cuting police inspector Nikolai Sant had told the court how Monseigneur had in- formed him that the accused had photo- graphed him at work in the commentary box on Saturday 4 November last year, at Hamrun's Victor Tedesco Stadium. In his detailed judgment on the case, Magistrate Joe Mifsud, himself a former sports journalist, gave an overview of the doctrines relating to the level of proof re- quired for conviction and the evaluation of evidence. On the charge of grievous bodily harm, the court observed that medical experts had established the injury as slight and so found Muscat guilty of causing slight injury. With regards to the charge of causing the journalist to fear violence would be used against him and that of stalking, the court observed how the man had behaved threateningly towards Monsei- gneur on a number of occasions, on one of them telling his colleague to pass on the message that "this doesn't stop here." On the charge of uttering insults, the court noted that the time had come to increase the fines in such cases to make them an effective deterrent, noting that punishment for this offence ranged from "detention to a ridiculous maximum fine of €58." Muscat was cleared of the charge of recidivism, however, as no evidence sup- porting this charge had been brought. In view of all this, the court handed the accused a sentence of six months im- prisonment suspended for three years. The magistrate highlighted the fact that "the suspended sentence is not, as some think, a let-off or a slap on the wrist. Those condemned to a suspended sen- tence must, during its operative period… [be on their best behaviour], because the moment they commit another imprison- able offence during that period, the sus- pended punishment is also activated and they must start to serve it." A three year-protection order was is- sued and Muscat was also ordered not to approach Monseigneur for a year or lose a personal guarantee of €2,000. TRANSPORT Malta will be hosting a national pollution response exercise off Maltese shores today. The scenario will simulate a large oil spill from a vessel following a collision with another. The pollution response will involve the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), several local and international entities. EMSA has made available new equipment from its assistance ser- vice arrangement located in Ravenna, Italy. "EMSA has never used this set dur- ing a real spill. This exercise will pro- vide a very good opportunity for the operators to get familiar with this equipment and test its deployment at sea," Transport Malta said. "EMSA have made available new equipment from Ravenna in Italy, which equip- ment has never been used during a real spill. The participants in this ex- ercise will be testing its deployment at sea." As part of the exercise, at 12.50pm yesterday, Malta requested interna- tional assistance through the EU's Common Emergency Communica- tion Information System (CECIS). All stakeholders and participants have been notified to put their resources on standby. Weather-permitting, the actual re- sponse at sea will commence today at 8am, where vessels will be deployed at sea to simulate the oil spill. The scenario will take into account sim- ulated weather conditions with the potential of an escalation. The in- formation to the participants will be provided as the exercise unfolds. Maltese responders, from various national entities and private con- tractors will get the opportunity to exercise for the eventuality of a real spill, testing both the communication systems, the equipment and to make sure all roles and responsibilities of the personnel listed in the National Pollution Contingency Plan will be effective during an actual response. Transport Malta will also take the opportunity to test the communica- tion systems and equipment in the newly set up Emergency Control Centre (ECC) at the Port Operation Centre in Marsa and the new equip- ment provided by EMSA and other equipment owned by the Authority and private contractors. Following an analysis of the deci- sions and actions taken, the exercise will help provide guidance about the best practice and procedures to be implemented in future scenarios. The exercise will also help give an insight into the effectiveness of the coordination between different teams during an emergency. Trans- port Malta will then present a report to EMSA during the third week of October. Participants will include the Armed Forces and the Malta Police and Civil Protection Department, the Mater Dei hospital accident and emergency unit, and various other public and private entities. Sports journalist's attacker found guilty of stalking, bodily harm Oil spill training exercise off Maltese shores The man was told not approach the journalist for a period of a year