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Karl Schembri
The police are still sitting on the case of illegal excavations underneath St John’s Co-Cathedral despite the discovery of the works that threatened the area’s underground historical features last September by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.
While the Lands Department is suing for damages the tenant of shop 210C in Merchants’ street, Valletta, for digging a cellar to change the outlet into a wine bar, cutting rock directly underneath the Cathedral Oratory, the police have yet to file criminal charges against Duncan Fenech for breaking cultural heritage laws.
Sources say tenant Fenech would face criminal charges carrying a maximum of six years imprisonment and up to Lm50,000 in fines once the police proceed with their case.
“The matter is now the hands of the police,” said acting Cultural Heritage Superintendent Nathaniel Cutajar.
Described as “shameful” by the executive secretary of the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, the works were carried out last year at the corner of St John’s Square mainly at night to avoid scrutiny and have also ruined World War II shelters while compromising the Cathedral’s foundations.
“Inspections by officers of the Superintendence have revealed actual physical damage to historical features, due to rock-cutting and removal, structural features and dumping of construction debris into WWII shelters,” Cutajar said last month. “The police are currently drawing up criminal charges to be brought against an individual.”
The Lands Department, which is the owner of the building, has meanwhile opened a civil case for damages against Fenech.
“An officer of the Superintendence has already testified in these proceedings,” Cutajar said.
kschembri@mediatoday.com.mt
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