MaltaToday previous editions

News maltatoday, TUESDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2013 Ramblers 'deeply concerned' with ODZ development Ramblers: "Politicans still need to be convinced that the environment is more important than the building industry" THE Ramblers Association said in a statement it is deeply concerned on the draft ODZ policy document which is open for public consultation, saying the document will make it easier for construction in ODZ. The Ramblers quoted the intro- ductory paragraph of the document, which states that there may be particular circumstances where attention has to be given to proposed development in scheduled areas. "Instead of sticking to the concept that 'ODZ is ODZ', this new policy is a barely-disguised veritable onslaught on the countryside. We believe that when it comes to ODZ, the government should further tighten regulations and enforcement, rather then loosen regulations on the pretext of helping farmers. Malta is too small to play around with the little countryside that still exists, " the Ramblers said in a statement. They mentioned the approval of a 15-floor development on the Xemxija ridge and the application for a private beach at Qui-Si-Sana on public land as examples. "Politicians still need to be convinced that the environment is more important to our health, wellbeing, and our economy, than the building industry." Police association calls for stricter penalties THE Malta Police Association BETTER THAN ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET • REALLY FREE! called for stricter penalties in cases where police officers are assaulted, to serve as a deterrent for future cases. This follows Sunday's incident where a police inspector suffered grievous injuries after being assaulted by a Somali man in the Malta International Airport. The Association noted how despite the fact similar cases are becoming a regular occurrence, police officers are still without an insurance cover. It stated that like all other employees, police officers should be protected when carrying out their duty. The police inspector was called to intervene outside the departures' lounge, where a 31-year old Somali man was damaging a bus after an argument with the driver. He suffered a fractured foot. Tunisian charged with punching his former wife in church TUNISIAN born Farhat Bouchehi- oua was remanded in custody yesterday after pleading not guilty to injuring his estranged wife and harassing her. Prosecuting inspector Joseph Agius recounted how yesterday morning the accused was attending a religious service at the Evangelic Baptist Church in Mosta. While the congregation was having coffee, he approached his wife to speak to his son, but the mother pulled the child away from him. At the end of a short verbal argument the wife threw her coffee at him, and he retaliated by punching his estranged wife in the face, causing slight injuries in the process. The accused was also charged with harassing his estranged wife on various occasions, breaching a care and protection order, committing an offence while on bail and relapsing. His defence lawyer argued the incident started from the woman's provocation. "She did not attend service at Mosta for a long time, choosing instead to go to Qormi. She decided to go to Mosta when she learnt the accused was attending there. This is an abuse of bail conditions, where the former wife, knowing the impositions placed on the accused, is pushing him to commit an offence which will land him in jail", the lawyer said. The defence asked the court to postpone the case in order for evidence to be exhibited for them to be able to prove the real facts behind the case. The prosecution objected to bail saying that while it is understandable that the incident could have been provoked, these incidents are becoming too regular. Magistrate Carol Peralta held that the police report made it clear it was the accused himself who approached his son, breaching the care and protection order placed on the wife and children. "However the court understands that if the man has been denied from seeing his children for over two months, the situation could lead him to behave without considering the consequences. Being denied access to his children, the accused resorted to violence to see them as he has a right to see his own children," the Magistrate held. The Magistrate denied bail to the accused, saying she was not convinced that the accused will behave in a responsible and rational manner. The case is expected to continue next week.

• Cover