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7 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2013 Young man turns to crime JOHANN Calleja, 26 of Fgura, was placed under a three-year probation after pleading guilty to drug possession. The court heard how the accused turned to drugs ten years ago following his father's passing, and is now dependant on cocaine. On 20 February 2012, the accused was apprehended by police officers in Bormla. A search revealed he was in possession of a sachet containing cocaine. Calleja released a police statement admitting drug possession and told investigators he had stolen his sister's purse containing €380, which he spent in one day to buy cocaine. He also took her laptop and gave it to someone as a guarantee for lending him €150. The money was also used to buy more drugs. Prosecuting Inspector Jurgen Vella told the court how Calleja had cooperated with the inves- tigators and admitted his guilt. However the court noted the accused's police record which over the span of a single year now includes convictions of misappropriation, breach of bail conditions and other offences. Over the same period of time, Calleja has been handed a suspended jail term and served two terms of imprisonment. The inspector held that the young man's drug problems are the reason behind his criminal career. Calleja was also charged with relapsing. Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras stated the accused is in dire need of help and that an effective jail term will not be the solution to Calleja's problems. The accused was handed a three-year probation. Upon hearing judgement, Calleja pledged to the court he will observe the court's orders and strive to change his ways. Former Enemalta employee Young driver fined €3,000 Traffic accident victim recounts her wins €85,328 in damages ordeal in 2010, when she was grievously LOUIS Borg Falzon a former Enemalta employee was awarded €85,328 in damages for injuries he had sustained in an occupational accident in 1999. On 14 March of 14 years ago, Falzon and other Enemalta employees were cleaning an aviation fuel tank at the Malta International Airport. While emptying the fuel from inside the tank into a bowser, the fuel caught fire. The fire spread to the bowser and the employee suffered severe burns to his face and arms. Falzon, then 41-yearsold, was hospitalised and could not report to work for six months while he recovered. Court medical expert, surgeon Charles Grixti, told the court he examined the victim on 27 October 2003. During the medical examination X-rays and MRI scans revealed that Falzon had suffered a 6% disability. Other experts held the victim had also suffered a psychological trauma. The victim's wife, Doreen Borg Falzon, took the witness stand and explained how her husband returned to work after six months but had to avail himself of a further three months sick leave on half pay. Enemalta had also agreed the man could take leave at a moment's notice due to the severe pain he suffered from. Madam Justice Lorraine Schembri Orland held Enemalta Corporation as the sole party responsible for the incident. The corporation was ordered to pay Falzon €85,328.88 in damages. The Court ordered that Enemalta also pays for court expenses. injured in a traffic accident at Rabat ANDREW Pace, a young driver of Attard was fined €3,000 and had his license suspended for four weeks after being found guilty of causing grievous injuries to Ann Marie Gauci and damaging her vehicle in a traffic accident back in December 2010. The incident happened at 3am on 4 December 2010. While it had rained during the day, the weather had cleared but the roads were still wet. 22-year-old Pace was driving down the Rabat road while the victim was driving towards Dingli. Gauci held there was no traffic at that time of night, however a car suddenly appeared coming from the opposite direction at excessive speed. Pace's Ford Fiesta hit her vehicle on the passenger's side causing it to spin in the op- posite direction. Gauci lost consciousness and was taken to Mater Dei by ambulance where she was found to have suffered a fracture dislocation of the hip joint. The victim had also suffered facial injuries, injuries to the nasal bone and to her jaw. The injuries were classified as grievous. Albeit the impact between the two vehicles was strong, the accused did not suffer any injuries in the accident. Magistrate Neville Camilleri found Pace guilty of grievously injuring Gauci and damaging her vehicle due to negligent driving, however the accused was acquitted of driving dangerously. The court fined Pace €3,000. The driving license of the accused was suspended for four weeks. s right to stop works if permit is issued is disputing the applicant's claim that he has obtained the consent of the Lands Department. In fact the government spokesperson did not elaborate when asked whether the application presented by the developer contains wrong information since it cites the consent of the owner of the land. The Sliema Local Council is objecting to a development of leisure facilities on 800 square metres of pristine rocky shoreline in Qui-SiSana just below the Qui-Si-Sana public garden. The development is earmarked for "leisure development" which consists of lavatories, showers, an attendant's area and rows of sun beds, which are set to cover the rocky shoreline. The application was presented by hotelier Michael Stivala on 15 March – just three days after the appointment of the new Labour government and was published in newspapers on 21 September. "Such a project will deny full public access on to what is presently public land," the Sliema council said in an official objection letter sent to MEPA. The Sliema council described the site in question as a "stretch of pristine rocky coastline" made up of globerigina limestone and characterised by rocky pools, which are rich in marine flora and fauna. The council also points out that a World War II structure known as the coastal Artillery Search Light overlooks the site. Although the application does not impact on this recently restored historical monument, it would result in the destruction of its context. A petition featuring an open letter to the prime minister, the Director of Lands and the chairman of MEPA protesting over the proposed development and calling for a stop to the privatisation of public beaches is being circulated on Facebook. Curiously, in this case the application presented to MEPA states that the applicant has notified the government of its intention to apply and the owner 'has granted consent to such a proposal'. Moreover, two weeks ago a government spokesperson insisted "no consent is needed and that no consent at this stage was granted by the GPD," citing a section of the Environment and Planning Law which states that consent of the owner is always required except when the applicant holds a lease on the property in question. In such cases, the applicant is only expected to inform the government property division and confirm that the site is in government ownership. When presenting an applications, applicants have three options: ei- ther to register as the sole owners of the land, to declare that they do not own the land in question (but have the consent of the owners), or to declare that they hold the site under a title of a lease. In this case, the applicant had chosen to state that he has the consent of the owner. But in the latest twist, the government has confirmed that the appli- cant did require a consent from the government and the government, which denies having issued any consent, is reserving its right to stop any works if a permit is granted.

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