Owner insists car transfers were illegal

A man has filed a judicial protest claiming that two cars he owned had been transferred in violation of the law.

Jesmond Micallef filed the protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court against Charles Ciappara, known as Tan-Nigma, and the Director of Traffic.

Mr Micallef noted that he was the owner of a Mercedes and a Renault and agreed to transfer them to Mr Ciappara provided he (Mr Ciappara) cleared the bills of exchange.

However, Mr Ciappara did not clear the bills even after he was warned through a judicial letter. Despite this, Mr Micallef said, the cars had been transferred to two different dealers and their registration plates had been changed without his consent.

This was illegal and abusive as the transfer was carried out in complete disregard of the laws regulating such transfers.

It was also prejudicial to him as it made it difficult for him to recover the cars, Mr Micallef said, adding he was holding Mr Ciappara and the Director of Traffic liable in damages.

Lawyer Claire Bonello signed the protest.