Driving through Gżira’s back streets may be a little less cheery these days as the popular wooden cowboy that has long stood in a corner was locked away in a scrapyard for not having the necessary permits.

The statue, which for about 12 years stood watch over the busy neighbourhood of Gżira Road, forms part of the bizarre furnishings of a German beer bar-cum-Thai restaurant, known for its laidback approach to catering.

Ferry Jehle, who owns the restaurant Good Thaimes, told Times of Malta a team of about 10 police officers and officials from the Malta Tourism Authority descended on his premises last week and insisted the cowboy and large wagon wheel benches be removed, as they lacked the necessary permits.

“It’s crazy, this cowboy has been here for years and no one has ever done anything. What kind of permit does one get for a large wooden cowboy and why would this require the police?” he said.

Mr Jehle said the police gave him one hour to remove the furniture and statue or else face a hefty fine. So he scrambled to find somewhere to store the lot and even had regular clients help load them on to his truck.

For those questioning the cowboy’s absence, Mr Jehle is informing patrons with a cheeky message on the chalkboard: “The cowboy got arrested and he is now in jail. He is innocent!”

Mr Jehle said he had long been having problems with his neighbours, who regularly complained about the noise ema-nating from the restaurant.

“They are always complaining about the people who come here. First they wanted us to stop making noise at 1am, then at 11pm. Now I think they just want us to close down,” he said, adding he had even heard of a petition being signed by residents to have the establishment closed.

This is not the first time the police have intervened. He said he had felt the police were ganging up on him when, last month, they insisted he remove a promotion chalkboard, which had been given to him by beer suppliers.

Despite complying and removing the chalkboard, Mr Jehle now faces a court hearing over what the police have termed the unlawful use of public space.

“Yes, this was set up on the pavement outside my restaurant. But I think this is too much. I mean, I’m going to court for a chalkboard,” he said, pointing at the offending board and jokingly calling it a “very naughty board”.

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