Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/501315
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 APRIL 2015 News 3 3 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 APRIL 2015 Bail for relapser who injured Dutch birdwatcher MATTHEW AGIUS THE hunter accused of having injured a 16-year-old Dutch bird- watcher near Pembroke was yes- terday granted bail after he pleaded not guilty to injuring the teenager. He was also charged with being a relapser. Magistrate Gabriella Vella heard Inspector Trevor Micallef describe how David Galea, 33 of Gzira, had unintentionally injured the boy, causing him slight injuries. The teenager required hospital treat- ment to his feet for injuries caused by shotgun pellets. Inspector Micallef said the police had been informed by the hospital that a boy had been hit with the pel- lets at 6:45am on Friday. The prosecution said that Galea subsequently slapped the young birdwatcher who was trying to take a photograph of him. Galea, who works in a Birkirkara confectionery, denied attacking and threatening the boy, causing him slight injury with a firearm and re- lapsing. Defence lawyers Yanika Camilleri and Vincent Micallef requested bail for the accused. The prosecution did not object, as the victim had since left Malta and his testimony had al- ready been taken by the police. Inspector Micallef requested that the court confiscate the shotgun, if the accused is found guilty. The court released Galea on bail against a deposit of €300 and a €2,000 guarantee. Casa Antonia NURSING & RESIDENTIAL HOME €2 million acquisition in Shanghai CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "The La- bour government did in a year what no other Nationalist ad- ministration did in 25 years of relations with China," the gov- ernment said in 2014. "We want our ambassadors and envoys building relations with govern- ments as well as with entrepre- neurs. The job is not just about diplomacy, but also about at- tracting investment." Sai Mizzi's role as trade envoy has been shrouded in secrecy, with the Labour government having been initially reticent in disclosing details of her contract and salary. Details of her salary were only made public in July 2014, when she appeared by the side of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during his visit to China. And an appeals board is yet to decide on MaltaToday's free- dom of information request for the contract and CV of both Sai Mizzi and Shiv Nair, the latter another trade envoy appointed by Malta Enterprise without any public call. Together with a salary of more than €73,000 a year, more than half of which is non-taxable, Sai Mizzi also receives a representa- tion allowance of €3,261 a year; a child allowance of almost €3,000 a year; a fully paid residence; an official car with fully paid ex- penses and fuel; and the full re- imbursement of the use of her mobile phone. She is also entitled for payment of private schooling for her chil- dren – up to €18,783 a year; a 90 per cent reimbursement of med- ical, dental, and ophthalmic care for all members of her family; a one-time settling-in and outfit allowance; and 15 free flight tick- ets between Malta and Beijing for all members of her family, 10 of them being business class. The total amount per year works out at a little less than €160,000. Malta's ambassador to China in Beijing, Clifford Borg Marks, is paid a €34,000 salary and €40,000 for his posting over- seas. Sai Mizzi's official job is to pro- mote Asian investment in Malta and Maltese exports to Asia, tar- geting China, Japan, South Ko- rea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thai- land, Vietnam and Singapore. She has dual citizenship and a diplomatic passport. Malta En- terprise officials can be provided with the title of commercial at- tachés or counsellors, granting them diplomatic immunity. David Galea, charged with relapsing but could still hunt Sai Mizzi