Updated 1.45 pm

A 24-year-old man has admitted to vandalising rocks at St Peter’s Pool after he was filmed writing with a spray-paint can at the popular bathing spot. 

Alaa Ali, who was born in Syria and lives in Fgura, appeared in front of Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace on Tuesday, charged with voluntarily causing damage to the site. 

Times of Malta published footage of Ali and another person vandalising the rocks on the beach after they were filmed by other beach-goers, who promptly called the police.

Ali appeared in court wearing the same shorts he was wearing in the footage and was assisted by a translator. 

In the brief sitting, Ali admitted to the charges. 

The court found him guilty by his own admission and ordered him to pay €250 for the damages caused. He was also conditionally discharged for a year. 

Defence lawyers Franco Debono and Adreana Zammit assisted Ali. 

Police Inspector Doriette Cuschieri prosecuted. 

In comments to Times of Malta earlier on Tuesday, the police said that an investigation seeking to identify the second person in the footage is still ongoing.