Charles Polidano, also known as iċ-Ċaqnu, has ignored court judgment by reapplying for the sanctioning of illegal works on four historic townhouses along Main Street, Balzan.

This comes not one month after Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti turned down an appeal filed by Polidano against the revocation of two permits carried out on the townhouses – one of which is said to have been used by Grand Master De Rohan as his country residence over 300 years ago.

The adjacent building functioned as quarters for the servants, and close by stood a structure utilized as stables. Additionally, the property features an underground cistern, as reported by the Times of Malta.

In 2013, Polidano had been issued two enforcement notices after he had destroyed part of the building as well as allegedly uprooting a tree and demolished a rubble wall in the gardens, and was subsequently fined a whopping €100,000.

Ċaqnu had appealed the fined and it was eventually reduced to €10,000.

The court dealt with two appeals brought forward by Polidano, challenging the decision of the Environment Planning and Review Tribunal, which had revoked a permit initially granted to him in 2014.

The Chief Justice clarified, “The tribunal ruled that the illegalities, covered by two enforcement notices, should have automatically excluded the application from being considered.”

He further highlighted that the Planning Authority should have investigated the illegal activities by Polidano before even assessing the application.

Despite these legal challenges, Ċaqnu began construction of a large swimming pool on the grounds of the ancient 300-year-old palazzo last March. The construction was only halted once he received notification from the Environment and Planning Review about the permit’s revocation.

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