The owner of an impounded tanker yesterday filed a judicial protest insisting no evidence against him existed despite allegations of illegal fuel transfers.

It was the second protest in as many days on the subject.

Pierre Darmanin said that his vessel, Silverking, was impounded last week and, yet, no evidence to prove that illegal fuel transfers had taken place was presented to a magisterial inquiry.

The Falzon Group of Companies, a fuel supplier, argued in a judicial protest on Monday that no evidence had been produced to prove that their ship, the MV Santa Maria, had been involved in such activity.

Mr Darmanin said he was arrested and interrogated but released after 42 hours having proved that everything was above board and being in possession of receipts to show he had legitimately purchased the fuel. In the protest filed against the Police Commissioner, the Harbour Master, the Comptroller of Customs, Transport Malta, the Attorney General, the Registrar of the Courts and the Armed Forces of Malta, he said he could not operate his business and held the authorities responsible for any damages he has incurred or is likely to suffer.

Lawyer Rachael Tua signed the protest.