Ship owners claim breach of rights
Criminal proceedings not concluded yet
A couple have filed a constitutional application claiming that their fundamental human rights are being violated by the forced sale of their ship.
Paul and Alexandra Piscopo filed their action against the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Controller of Customs.
They told the court that Paul Piscopo was facing criminal charges involving violation of the Customs Ordinance. The criminal proceedings had not yet been concluded.
This notwithstanding, the Controller of Customs had seized the Piscopos’ ship Alexandra 1 and has started the procedures for sale by judicial auction.
If the ship were to be sold, the Piscopos said, they would suffer irremediable harm and would lose their livelihood without any compensation and when there was no judgment against them.
They added that the provisions of the Customs Ordinance enabling the forced sale of the ship was in violation of their fundamental human rights and they asked the First Hall of the Civil Court to stop the judicial sale by auction.
Lawyers José Herrera and David Camilleri signed the application.