Footage published by Net Neews, shows people responding in kind, applauding Azzopardi and greeting him with hugs and messages of support upon his exit from the courts.

The crowd even started getting vocal once journalists began asking Azzopardi questions.

@lovinmaltaofficial Former Infrastructure Malta CEO Frederick Azzopardi was met with cheers and support as he entered and exited the courts over charges concerning breaches of environmental protection legislation. 📹// Net News #fyp #malta #lovinmalta ♬ original sound – Lovin Malta

Azzopardi has been charged over allegedly ordering illegal works in Wied Qirda, Żebbuġ.

In 2019, Azzopardi ignored a stop notice issued by the Environment and Resources Authority and ordered a contractor to proceed with the illegal works in the valley.

A few months later, the Environmental and Planning Review Tribunal fined the contractor for ignoring the notice and going ahead with the works. 

Inspections continued in the following months, with ERA finding that the contractor was still going against the stop notice.

ERA was then informed by the contractor that he was receiving direct orders from IM to continue with said works, notably from Azzopardi himself.

Today, his lawyers claimed that the case itself should be time-barred and called for the recusal for the magistrate involved. 

What do you think of the crowd’s reaction?