Karozzin coach charged with animal cruelty

Carmel Mallia, a karozzin coach from Birkirkara was charged with animal cruelty after it transpired that his horse had died of malnutrition.

In July 2011, Mallia's horse collapsed in Marina Street, Pietà as it was being driven to Valletta. An on-the-spot inspection by animal welfare officials that ordered a veterinary examination on the horse, found the animal was not only malnourished, but was completely dehydrated at the height of summer.

Toxicology reports showed that the horse didn't even have water in its stomach and just some dry food.

Meanwhile animal welfare officers are to charge two other karozzin drivers after they were found to have tied their horses at 2am at the Valletta waterfront, in a bid to reserve a place before 10am when a cruise ship had to arrive to Malta.