Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1298422
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 14 OCTOBER 2020 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI ZOO-OWNER Anton Cutajar has lam- basted proposed rules that will ban the petting of wild cats and animals, in a high- ly-charged video he posted to Facebook. Cutajar, whose illegally-built zoo L-Arka Ta' Noe in Siggiewi was green-lit by the Planning Authority in an egregious case of sanctioning, vehemently protested plans by the animal welfare ministry to disallow the public from touching wild animals. Cutajar's zoo allows the public to pet wild animals in captivity, under supervi- sion; other zoos in Malta offer similar ex- periences, although an incident at Charles Polidano's Montekristo zoo resulted in in- juries to a small child. The rules effectively cut into Cutajar's business by making illegal the touching of wild aniamls by visitors; making the breed- ing of wild animals illegal, unless exempt- ed by the directorate for veterinary regu- lation, and then only for conservation and scientific purposes. Visibly nervous, speaking in a high- pitched voice and clenching his jaw, Cuta- jar unleashed his fury at the government, claiming the rules were intended as part of "an agenda against [him]". "Who are you to dictate what we do? I know you're picking on me, but don't worry… the agenda is not on animals, but against myself," he claimed. Cutajar, who in February picketed a Black Lives Matter protest and also promotes an anti-immigration petition to MPs, is now rallying his Facebook followers to sign a petition which calls for the neutering and touching of tigers to not be included in the proposed amendments. "Sign the petition, let's show them that they cannot just do whatever they want," he said. Cutajar said the petition he has launched was also in response to a separate petition by Time for Change, an NGO's campaign calling for a change in legislation sur- rounding zoos. "This thing that someone starts to make decisions when a petition gets dissemi- nated has to stop," said the man who is himself championing a petition calling for the ports to refuse entry to asylum seekers rescued at sea, and wanting it to be taken up by MPs. Cutajar exports cubs that are born in- side his zoos, which are part of his busi- ness model. "If someone is intent on doing harm, you won't do anything against me. I will not allow you to neuter my animals. Over my dead body," he said. In his highly-charged tirade, Cutajar even managed to reference Russian president Vladimir Putin's love for white tigers; and that supporters of the "agenda against me" were advocating for the introduction of abortion in Malta. He said he had already called the animal rights minister, Anton Refalo, for a meet- ing. "They didn't consult with us zoo own- ers over the proposed amendments, I had to learn from the media. This is unaccept- able," he said. "I will be calling on Europe to reverse such a decision, and I will go there with the best lawyers to fight," he said. The public consultation started yester- day, and will run through to 27 October. Zoo-owner in online tirade against rules to stop public touching wild animals MATTHEW AGIUS A man has been charged after allegedly firing shots during an argument with his girlfriend on Sunday. Melvin Debono, 29, from Paola was arrested on Sunday evening after he allegedly fired two shots from an unlicensed Walther P99 pistol during an argument in Senglea, accord- ing to the police. The incident occurred at around 10pm in Triq iz-Zewg Mini. In a statement issued after the shooting, the police said the man had fired at his girlfriend The handgun was found inside Debono's Mercedes. Police also found an iron truncheon and over €18,000 in cash in the ve- hicle. Magistrate Ian Farrugia is leading an inquiry into the shooting. Arraigned yesterday af- ternoon before magistrate Charmaine Galea, the man pleaded not guilty to charg- es which included possessing an unlicensed firearm, fail- ing to inform the police that the weapon had come into his possession, carrying a firearm during the commission of an offence against the person, at- tacking the woman, making threats, discharging the fire- arm in an inhabited area and breaching bail. Inspector Clayton Camilleri – prosecuting together with Inspector Audrey Micallef - said that police had received a report of shots being fired in the street following an argu- ment. Police went to the scene and surrounded the accused. Inside his car a handgun and €18700 in cash were found. A bullet casing was found at the scene, its projectile also being found embedded in a distant wall. The victim was not found at the scene and is yet to speak to the police since the incident, Camilleri said. The police were unable to serve her with a summons to appear as a witness. Defence lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri, entered a not guilty plea and asked for bail. Franco Debono pointed out that of the 11 charges, 5 were contraventions and 4 more are alternative to each other. "The other charges, we don't even have injuries. We have attack- ing the woman, who suffered no injuries. Then there is the possession of a weapon …this is not an obstacle to bail." Debono said his client was prepared to obey every condi- tion imposed by the court. Inspector Camilleri object- ed to bail, arguing that the accused had fired shots in an inhabited area and that there were people who are yet to tes- tify. "We didn't exaggerate the charges," he quipped. The court at this stage, noting that one of the charges was a breach of bail conditions, and in view of the fact that the al- leged victim has not yet spoken to the police and is yet to testi- fy, denied bail. Man denied bail after being charged with Senglea shooting The incident occurred at around 10pm last Sunday in Triq iz-Zewg Mini, Senglea (Photo: CMRU) Anton Cutajar