The Court of Appeal yesterday reduced the fine given to a man found guilty of importing protected birds by Lm2,387.

Mario Ellul had been fined a total of Lm3,387 for importing five protected long-eared owls on a flight from Cairo, Egypt on 12 April 2001.

The accused had passed through the Green Channel of Customs and three of the birds had died in transit. The court noted that the birds, while protected, had a total value of Lm180. On further investigation, the authorities found that the accused had a number of protected species of stuffed birds mounted at his home.

The court noted that the wrong articles of the law relating to punishment had been cited by the Court of Magistrates in the original hearing.

As a result, the Court of Appeal confirmed the accused’s guilt, but revoked two fines which were incorporated in the Lm3,387 fine originally handed down. The court revoked Lm387 and Lm2,000 in fines, however retained another Lm1,000 fine also imposed.

As a result, the accused was fined a global amount of Lm1,000.