Developer fined for renting out palazzo illegally

Developer Carmelo Mangion of B'Kara was fined €5,000 for carrying out works and organising weddings at Palazzo Virtu in Rabat without having the necessary permits.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how the 53-year-old developer ignored two enforcement notices issued between 2008 and 2010.

Mangion was also charged with using the premises for weddings and events and selling alcohol without an Malta Tourism Authority permit, selling food without a license and not issuing VAT receipts.

Furthermore Mangion was charged with carrying out structural development works without having the mandatory MEPA permits.

The court found Mangion guilty as charged and fined him €5,000. Magistrate Scerri Herrera gave the developer three months to regulate his position with the VAT department.

Should he fail, he will incur a €20 daily fine until such time when his position is regularized.

Inspector Robert Vella prosecuted while lawyers Robert Abela and Albert Zerafa appeared on behalf of MEPA.