A man has filed a judicial protest claiming that his fundamental human rights were violated by police and the Armed Forces when they raided his yacht without a warrant, causing him "undue shock and humiliation".

Edward Cassar said that his boat was anchored in Mellieħa Bay along with several other boats a fortnight ago at 1.30 a.m. when at least 12 officers, including soldiers armed with submachine guns, and policemen boarded his boat while he and his friends were asleep.

Acting without a warrant, and the police told the boat owner that they were looking for an escaped prisoner.

Police are entitled to search areas without a warrant if they are looking for a subject who has escaped some form of detention, but since there were no reports of such an escape Mr Cassar suspects that this was used as an excuse.

"They searched every nook and cranny, even in places where it is impossible for a person to hide. I think this was a clear instance of abuse of power," Mr Cassar told The Sunday Times.

When contacted, the police said they had information that a "wanted subject" might be on board the boat, However, after acting on this they did not find what they were looking for.

Mr Cassar, 55, claimed that after the search he was so agitated that he fell unconscious for a while. He is therefore seeking compensation for his ordeal and is insisting on being given the information that led to this raid, since he suspects foul play.

The judicial protest was filed against the Police Commissioner, the Commander of the AFM and the Attorney General.