Updated Monday - Charles Polidano, known as Ic-Caqnu, was interrogated by the police and held for hours last night following an incident at Montekristo in which a five-year-old boy was injured by a lioness.
The incident was the second of its nature in five months, with the illegal zoo having reopened yesterday when a hunting fair was held on the premises.
The boy suffered what the police said were slight injuries to his neck and back and was taken to hospital by his parents.
Details of the incident have not been disclosed yet, but the boy's father has also been questioned by the police.
In November, a three-year-old boy was seriously injured by a tiger that was taken out for a “walk” by its handlers in the same 'zoo'. The owners had subsequently said that the unlicensed animal park was being closed down.
GOVERNMENT PROMISES ACTION
In a statement yesterday the government said action would be taken over the incident.
Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri last night had meetings with the Attorney General, the Planning Authority and senior police officers.
"What happened today shows that the owners have ignored orders given by the authorities, and action will be taken against them, the police said earlier.
"The government will not tolerate a situation where the owners think they can take the law into their own hands," the government added.
It described today's incident as unacceptable and said an inquiry is being held.
The owners are already in court over previous infringements.
BOYCOTT CALL
Front Ħarsien ODZ this morning expressed its disappointment that government officials, and politicians from both major parties had attended the hunting fair held in Montekristo, 'a place riddled by planning illegalities which include an illegal zoo and illegal structures'.
"We call on all members of government, all members of parliament, politicians and local councils to stop patronizing this illegal establishment and the general public to boycott this monument of illegality", the Front said.
It also called on the government to enforce the law and remove all illegal structures.
'Any regularization of illegalities in the area would be an affront against the rule of law,' it said.