Tent village resident charged with trashing administration office

A man from Congo has denied damaging equipment at the Hal Far tent village administration office after flying into a rage when he went to complain that his electricity supply had been cut off.

33-year-old Justin Zumalagi was arraigned before magistrate Charmaine Galea this morning, accused of causing between €250 and €2,500 worth of damage at the office and other offences against property.

The court was told that Zumalagi, who is understood to have been living in a container at the Hal Far tent village for a year, had his electricity supply cut off on 30 July. When the man had gone to the administration offices to complain, he had become irate and smashed a computer monitor, computer tower, a telephone and a fan. The cost of the damaged equipment came to €450.23, the inspector said.

The accused pleaded not guilty but bail was not requested, due to the fact that he didn't have a permit to reside in Malta or a fixed residential address.

The court allowed the man to be escorted to collect his belongings before he is remanded in custody.

Lawyer Noel Cutajar was legal aid.

The Agency For The Welfare Of Asylum Seekers later clarified that Zumalagi's electricity had been cut off due to an electrical circuit overload and not because he overstayed the 12 month period, adding that Zumalagi had broken into one of the cabins "given that he is listed as a non resident."