Fisherman fined over assault of fisheries official
A fisherman who barged into a government office and physically assaulted a fisheries official was fined €1,500 after denying criminal charges.
The incident took place on September 30 at the government farm in Għammieri when the door to the office was suddenly flung open and in walked a man who headed straight towards one of the officials at his desk.
A number of eyewitnesses who were on duty that day at the time of the incident testified when Jason Genovese, the 47-year-old Marsascala fisherman, appeared in court under summons.
He was charged with assaulting and threatening the public official, causing him to fear violence as well as misuse of electronic communications equipment.
Genovese pleaded not guilty.
Several fisheries officials took the witness stand recalling the dynamics of the incident.
“When I call you answer. Don’t put down the phone,” the accused snapped as he entered the office, making a beeline for the official who was on the phone at the time.
He then raised his hands, striking the seated official who, in turn, stood up and tried to ward off the attack.
Genovese’s lawyer asked one of the witnesses whether the accused had been “chasing him for information”,...