A recent court case has shown the unbalanced approach Malta’s courts has to violent crimes – especially in light of heavy punishments for non-violent crimes.

37-year-old Libyan national Husam Saleh Belgasem Shalgom has been slapped with a €50 fine after being found guilty of assaulting another man.

The incident left the victim with slight injuries as a result of a face-punching incident during a heated argument.

During the proceedings, the prosecuting officer presented the case before Magistrate Gabriella Vella.

It was revealed that the altercation erupted over an €800 loan extended to the victim by the accused’s brother.

The victim had declined to repay the borrowed sum, leading to a clash while the victim was operating a vehicle.

Shalgom also managed to avoid a more severe charge related to injuring the victim with a knife as the victim himself later confessed that he had, in fact, harmed himself with a gypsum knife during the course of the altercation.

In addition to the €50 fine, Magistrate Vella issued an additional financial penalty, requiring Shalgom to cover €209 in court expenses.

Inspector Jonathan Ransley led the prosecution in this legal case.

Online, the reactions to the case were widespread,  with many noting how “cheap” it was to get away with punching other people in Malta.

One person even sarcastically said that the fine used to be “€60” – so its actually becoming cheaper to assault people legally in Malta.

Just this week, another man was sentenced for four and half years in prison for importing cannabis to the island a decade ago – even though he had since said he reformed his life.