A man who illegally built a garage in Sannat in 1988 and subsequently sold it, was today fined €100 and ordered by a court to demolish it immediately - against a penalty of €100 per day from day if the order is not carried out.

Charles Grima was convicted of building the garage in Ta' Cenc Street despite being denied a building permit.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti noted that this case started being heard in 1988 under a different magistrate and had encountered various delays, including postponements to give time to the accused to regularise his position.

The case was also postponed several times because the accused claimed to be sick - to the extent that at one time the court ordered that the accused be produced under arrest, assisted by a doctor.

The evidence showed that Grima had applied for a building permit but, in 1987, it was denied because the area did not fall within a development zone. The accused was only allowed to build a tool shed, but he still went ahead with building the garage.

A notarial contract showed that the garage was sold 10 years ago.

The court said the case had been proven. It ordered the immediate demolition and restoration of the site to its previous state. Grima was fined €100 plus €100 for every day that this order is not carried out.