Illegal abattoir farmer charged with assaulting officers

A man who two weeks ago was charged with illegally slaughtering animals in an unlicensed Mosta abbatoir, faced a magistrate this morning accused of assault on a veterinary officer and illegal breeding of animals in the same farmhouse.

Joseph Camilleri, 58 of Mosta was brought before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli under arrest after failing to attend previous sittings.

He denied the charges brought against him, as his lawyer Anglu Farrugia told the court that he know the accused since school.

"I can vouch that this man knows nothing more than animals. They are his life," Farrugia said as Demicoli replied that even she knew nothing more than law, but she had to abide by laws.

A scruffy and dirty looking Camilleri faced the police and veterinary services officials as they testified that they had gone to his Mosta farmhouse to enforce an order by Magistrate Jacqline Padovani Grima, who insisted for regular inspections on Camilleri.

The 18 August 2011 inspection was part of a series since his previous arraignment in December 2010, when he was caught and convicted of illegally breeding 10 sheep.

When the vet services officials approached him in august he attempted to escape and pushed one of them, and fled the site. He had five goats on site.

He was arrested after police insisted with him he returns to open the farm house. The case has been put off for sentencing.