Carmel Polidano, a contractor known as Caqnu, today was fined €100,000 by Magistrate Anthony Vella after being found guilty of cutting down protected trees and demolishing a rubble wall in Balzan.

The incident took place in Main Street on or before March last year.

The court ruled that the environment should be protected in the strictest way possible. The court said that this kind of behaviour must stop and, although it will not impose a jail sentence, it was handing down a fine close to the maximum.

In its judgment, the court said that Mr Polidano not only did not abide by the Mepa regulations, but showed that he did not have respect towards authority.

In this case, the accused ignored the scheduling of a property, an emergency conservation order and an enforcement notice issued by Mepa.

Mr Polidano, of Safi, informed the court that he will be appealing the judgment.