Shareholder accuses business partner of threatening him

A company shareholder yesterday filed two applications in court for the dissolution of two companies on grounds that he was being threatened by another shareholder.

Shane Scicluna filed one application against Grimluna Ltd and against Frank Grima. The other application was filed against Plush Entertainments Co Ltd, Frank Grima and Joseph Zammit.

Mr Scicluna told the First Hall of the Civil Court he was an equal shareholder in Grimluna Ltd with Mr Grima and that he and Mr Grima were company directors. Grimluna Ltd operated the Black Bull Pub and the Crystal Gentleman's Club in St Julians.

With effect from August 1993, Mr Scicluna had managed and operated the two clubs on a daily basis.

Mr Scicluna said he was an equal shareholder in Plush Entertainments Co Ltd with Mr Zammit. This company had been formed to operate the bar and club known as Plush and as Plush Underground in St Julians. The bar and club were run by Mr Zammit and by Mr Grima.

Serious trouble had arisen recently between Mr Scicluna and Mr Grima. Mr Scicluna alleged that Mr Grima had threatened him and his family with violence and bombs. As a result, Mr Scicluna had suffered from panic attacks and had left Malta for a while.

Mr Scicluna alleged that the employees of Grimluna were not in a position to withstand Mr Grima's threats and that Mr Grima used to take money from the cash registers of Black Bull Pub and the Crystal Gentleman's Club.

In the case of Plush, Mr Scicluna told the court he had been excluded from the management of the place and denied information about it.

The court was asked to order the liquidation of Grimluna Ltd and Plush Entertainments Co Ltd and to hold Mr Grima liable in damages.

Lawyer Edward Debono acted for Mr Scicluna.