Man Found Guilty Of Cat Killings Sentenced To Two Years In Prison

Japanese national Okamura Satoshi has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined €15,000 after pleading guilty to brutally killing several cats across various localities in Malta.

The Court, presided over by Duty Magistrate Nadine Sant Lia, also imposed a 40-year ban on animal ownership and a three-year treatment order. Satoshi will be deported to Japan after serving his sentence.

The Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare hailed the ruling as a turning point, stating, “This morning, the Court handed down the longest and strongest sentence ever for animal cruelty in Malta… For the first time ever, an effective prison sentence has been given for animal cruelty itself.”

Commissioner, Alison Bezzina, emphasised that while Satoshi’s resistance to arrest was considered in sentencing, “the heart of this sentence lies in the cruelty inflicted upon innocent animals.”

The statement described the decision “historic,” highlighting that although the Animal Welfare Act has long allowed for jail time, “until today, it remained words on paper – a law with no bite.”

Concluding on a hopeful note, the Bezzina added, “Maybe, just maybe, things are starting to change. Maybe animal cruelty is finally being treated with the seriousness it deserves.”

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Photo Credit: Times of Malta