Updated | Horse cabbie charged with animal cruelty released on bail

A Birkirkara horse cabbie filmed on Sunday whipping a fallen horse was released on bail this morning.

Alban Josef Saliba of Birkirkara was arraigned under arrest before magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera on animal cruelty charges.

The incident caused public outcry after mobile phone footage of the hapless animal writhing piteously on the ground during its flogging was uploaded to Facebook.

Saliba, 33, pleaded not guilty to the charges issued by inspectors Lara Butters and Herman Mula. Inspector Mula was asked by defence lawyer Joe Brincat how the accused's other horses were kept. He replied that a veterinarian had said the enclosure was small.

The accused had told police that he was "trying to get the horse to stand up," the court heard. A number of reports and photos from the animal welfare department were also exhibited.

The accused requested bail. Mula objected saying animals were voiceless creatures that had to be protected. "Had it not been for a passerby who filmed the incident, this incident would probably not have come to our attention."

The court noted that the photographs of the stables showed that sores and wounds could be seen on the horses.

The defence argued that after his portrayal in the media, nobody had taken into account the fact that the animals were this man's livelihood. The court upheld the request for bail, against a €500 deposit and personal guarantee of €1000, on condition that he sign a bail book twice a week.

MaltaToday is informed that the horse is approximately 20 years of age, and had a swollen lump visible on right front leg.

“During the inspection, the horse was frightened,” a source privy to a vet inspection said. “No skin lesions were observed but when the vet tried to put his hand on the horse’s back, the horse was nervous and in pain. The owner was asked to put the horse outside the stable and the horse had some issues with his hind limb and was in pain.”