The Commissioner of Land was yesterday charged with slightly injuring a 63-year-old man in a scuffle after the man burst into the Commissioner’s office complaining about an eviction order.

Albert Mamo, 59, of Swieqi pleaded not guilty to assaulting Anthony Gatt after the latter allegedly called him corrupt on May 12 at 10.30 a.m.

Mr Mamo was charged only after Mr Gatt’s lawyer complained that just as his client had been arraigned for slightly injuring Mr Mamo and damaging property, so too should Mr Mamo.

In yesterday’s sitting, which lasted the best part of two minutes, Mr Mamo registered a not guilty plea and the case was put off for next month.

Mr Gatt had caused a commotion at the Auberge De Baviere, in Valletta, after the government property he had illegally occupied for well over a decade was put up for auction on the advice of the Attorney General, sources said. In the commotion, the door to Mr Mamo’s office was damaged and a scuffle ensued.

Mr Gatt used to rent a building in Marsaxlokk which was being used as a sailing club but, despite the eviction notice, he refused to leave. He even tried applying for a warrant of prohibitory injunction against the eviction order but it was rejected. As a last resort, he had asked for a refund of the money he had spent developing the property but the government turned the request down.

Lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for Mr Mamo.