Injunction against would-be grand master

The Civil Court yesterday issued an injunction against an Italian man who planned to proclaim himself as the 77th Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem - but a gathering of the order went ahead anyway at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.

During an urgent sitting in court in the morning, lawyers acting on behalf of the order's 76th Grand Master, Louis Scerri Montaldo, explained how Basilio Calì had tapped into the order's bank accounts.

The court heard that Mr Calì had already been found guilty of title usurpation and falsification of documents by the Italian courts.

Mr Justice Raymond Pace issued the injunction and will hear the case on June 6.

The court also prohibited Mr Calì from carrying out acts related to the order. However, it is not clear what took place during the gathering of about 90 members of the order at the MCC later in the day.

The petition was presented by Dr Gavin Gulia and Davina Sullivan, LP.