On June 16, I went to a bar/restaurant in St Paul’s Bay to watch a football match on their TV. When I went back to my car, much to my surprise, I found a parking ticket stuck to the windshield.

The ticket was issued because I allegedly parked illegally in Fliegu Street. To begin with, it was in a car park and not in the street; there is no sign at all to indicate that the car park is controlled by the council; there are no white lines to show where cars should be parked; and, finally, my car was parked parallel to the other cars and was causing no obstruction.

I lodged an objection and included pictures to LES (online) regarding this false accusation and clear abuse of power. My objection was rejected.

In September, I went to the St Paul’s Bay tribunal to contest the contravention notice. I showed the pictures of the vehicle in the car park (and not in Fliegu Street as the ticket stated).

At the hearing, warden 566 stated that I was blocking the driveway of the car park (which I wasn’t), thus contradicting the contravention notice, which claimed that the car was illegally parked in Fliegu Street!

To my disbelief, the commissioner told me that “common sense tells you to park between the two concrete strips!” Guilty!

I paid the fine under protest.

I have since spoken to St Paul’s Bay mayor Mario Salerno, who was very sympathetic and recommended I speak to Mtarfa mayor Anthony Mifsud.

Mr Mifsud, in turn, told me to speak to the executive secretary of the tribunal. I spoke to Josette Vella at the Northern Tribunal who told me to speak to the Wardens’ House in San Ġwann.

I rang the Wardens’ House and spoke to a Mr Cutajar who told me to lodge an appeal in court.

I even sent an e-mail to MEP Simon Busuttil and he too was sympathetic and suggested that I lodge an appeal with the Petitions Board (which I already did).

This, I feel, is a clear and blatant case of abuse of power and a gross injustice.