Two Gozitans have been fined €13,500 each after they were caught manufacturing fireworks illegally in a garage in Victoria last March.

George Attard, 37, and Emanuel Buhagiar, 35, who are cousins and both from Victoria, admitted before Magistrate Joseph Mifsud to the illegal importation of around one kilogramme of explosive powder discovered in a garage-turned workshop owned by the La Stella Philharmonic Society. The garage is located directly under Ku Club and the Astra Theatre – two popular venues.  

The police discovered the explosive material during a search on 13 March. The philharmonic society had passed the garage on to the men to be used as a store but not for pyrotechnical materials. The accused were ordinary members of the society.

Magistrate Mifsud commented that the illegal storage of explosive material in a residential area was very serious not only for the accused but also for the people living nearby who had their lives exposed and endangered. 

He also noted that the philharmonic society had disassociated itself from the illegal explosives and that the discovery deviated the attention from the cultural activities the band club was organising. 

The Magistrate said the punishment had to not only reflect the seriousness of the case but also had to serve as a deterrent to others. He also considered the fact that the accused had admitted to the charges at the earlies stage and that the prosecution and defence had agreed that a pecuniary punishment was the most suitable in the case. The two men were fined €13,500 each and ordered to pay court expenses. 

Police Inspectors Frank Tabone and Bernard Spiteri prosecuted.