Former IM boss Frederick Azzopardi cleared over Wied Qirda works

Updated 11.25am,  adds judgment details

Former Infrastructure Malta boss Frederick Azzopardi has been cleared of charges related to illegal works at Wied Qirda because a fine had already been paid in connection with  the case and other charges were time-barred.

Payment of an administrative penalty over the works had extinguished the criminal action that was subsequently taken against Azzopardi, a court declared.

That was the crux of a judgment delivered on Thursday in proceedings against Azzopardi who was facing charges for breaching environment protection laws when ordering works to proceed at the protected site. 

The case dates to 2019 when Infrastructure Malta workers defied a stop and compliance order issued by the Environment and Resources Authority, with those unauthorised works continuing until the end of January 2020. 

Over two years later, Azzopardi was served notice of summons to face charges for failing to abide by that order, breaching environment protection laws, making a false or misleading or incorrect declaration and as a public officer, committing those acts which he was duty bound to prevent. 

When testifying in the proceedings, ERA Enforcement Director Aimee...