Drifting competition organisers file judicial protest after Mepa objections

The drifting competition organisers - FM Promotions Limited - has today filed a judicial protest against MEPA, and the police commissioner, after it was alleged that MEPA's objections to its event were tantamount to “abuse and disrcrimination.” 

This morning, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the police did not issue the permit for the King of Europe Malta drifting competition after the Malta Environemnt and Planning Authority (MEPA) objected to the issuance of the permit.

The King of Europe Malta drifting competition was to be held this weekend, starting this evening, at Montekristo Estates, but the necessary Police permits were not issued.

In his judicial protest, Adrian Figallo, on behalf of FM Promotions Limited, claimed that MEPA acted in a "discriminatory manner" because it was against the site, rather than the event. 

Figallo explained that prior to the issuance of the permit, the police commissioner requested several documents, and stated that the permit would be issued, "provided that MEPA did not have any objections." However, the police did not issue a permit after MEPA had flagged several enforcement notices against MonteKristo Estates, in Hal Farrug.

Owned by construction magnate Charles Polidano's company, Montekristo Estates is facing several sanctions over a number of illegalities carried out. 

In his judicial protest, Figallo stated that MEPA CEO Johan Buttigieg had claimed that in order for MEPA to withdraw its objections, a number of conditions must be satisfied. 

One of the conditions offered was for Charles Polidano ‘Ic-Caqnu’ to pay €100,000 in outstanding debts, some of which date back to 1996. Buttigieg is also said to have demanded that Polidano closes down the ‘Animal Park’ at Montekristo, and that any illegal structures on site be demolished.

Filed against the police commissioner, MEPA, the Licensing Appeals Board, and the Attorney General, the judicial protest took umbrage at the police for issuing a permit for a fair three months ago, a practice that according to Figallo was “discriminatory.”

“Even though MEPA clearly abused of its powers, the police commissioner nevertheless declined to issue a permit,” he said, adding that the board did not provide any reason for its decision.

“It is clear that MEPA is against the site in question, not the exhibition itself, and consequently it should pay for damages.”

The plaintiffs also explained that despite the enforcement notices, he should have been granted a permit because the area where he was supposed to organize the event “was not subject to an enforcement notice.”

Lawyer Jason Grima signed the protest.