LESA law enfacement agency will still follow up on its cases against individuals who were fined for breaching quarantine regulations. This comes despite a magistrate’s decision that it has no legal power to enforce the rules. 

Svetlick Flores, the local enforcement system agency’s chief executive officer, said that proceedings will continue before the courts and the commissioners for justice which is where the agency is making its legal arguments. 

He stated that since there are ongoing court proceedings on such cases, it is not prudent to comment further at this stage. However, LESA will be making its arguments in court. ‘The final judgements will then determine whether any action must be taken’ he stated. 

According to a magistrate ruled last week, no local council, regional committee or agency for local enforcement has the power to enforce or commence proceedings against anyone who breached COVID quarantine rules. 

Despite quarantine regulations falling within the competence of the commissioners for justice, they were not, noted the magistrate, listed among offences community officers could enforce. 

Deciding on separate appeals filed by a man and a woman who were fined, the magistrate said that ‘given that such power is not expressly provided for in the law… then, the Local Enforcement System Agency cannot bring forward proceedings and prosecute persons for a breach of the regulations in question.’ 

The man and woman were fined €10,000 and €3,000 respectively, with LESA being among the agencies to issue fines. The others were police, Malta Tourism Authority and Transport Authority. 

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