Karl Stagno-Navarra Cabinet has reportedly approved the reduction of a €35,000 fine imposed by the courts on a Sicilian fisherman, guilty of illegal fishing within Malta’s exclusive zone.
Government Sources have told MaltaToday that Cabinet approved a proposal put forward by rural affairs minister George Pullicino to have the fine reduced to €10,000 as had been hinted by himself two days earlier in Marsala when he met with Sicilian senator Antonio D’Ali.
The news of Cabinet reducing the hefty fine imposed on fisherman Francesco Giacalone, skipper of the ‘Mamma Maria’ reportedly baffled the Office of the President, who was still waiting for replies from the Home affairs ministry and the Attorney General before considering granting a Presidential pardon, as was formally requested.
Francesco Giacalone and his five crew members have been stranded on board their trawler since January 25, the day when an AFM patrol boat intercepted them at approximately 18 miles off the coast, when the exclusive zone extends to 25 miles.
MaltaToday is informed that the President’s office was expedite to send the documentation requesting advice from the competent authorities, including the Home affairs ministry that also accounts for justice.
But the file was apparently “stalled” on a desk and not passed on to the Attorney General’s office for consideration because the competent official was out on leave.
As many days went by without an answer, the issue became a major concern for the Italian government who repeatedly pleaded with the Maltese authorities to take stock of the genuine humanitarian case.
It also became a worry for the Maltese fishing community, who through their cooperative representatives stressed that heavy-handedness with the Sicilian fishermen was definitely not in their interest.
Many Maltese have expressed solidarity with the Sicilian fishermen, brought food to their boat and also gave them some money to survive almost a month in harbour.
But while the fine has been reduced to €10,000 as imposed by Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna - who also ordered the confiscation of €15,000 worth of fish that was on board the ‘Mamma Maria’- port officials told this paper last night that the fishermen were possibly facing thousands of more euros to pay in port charges, given that their boat was kept impounded and under police escort at Timber Wharf in Marsa for a month. The Italian embassy in Malta continues to follow the fishermen’s saga.
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