Carmel Azzopardi from Xaghra, was fined €100,000 after being found guilty of illegally excavating a quarry extension near San Lawrenz, Gozo.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti heard that MEPA had issued a stop and enforcement notice in April 1998, calling on Azzopardi to stop excavating rock from part of a quarry. According to the Court, the man took no notice and work continued.

The accused proceeded to submit an application to MEPA to sanction the extension of the quarry, however no permit was issued as this appeared to have been going on for quite a long time. The Defendant insisted that MEPA’s instructions were followed.

Azzopardi was ordered to refill the part of the quarry which was illegally excavated within three months. Failure to obey would result in a daily fine of €60.