Court revokes Police Commissioner's decision on renewal of licence

The Tribunal for the Review of Administrative Acts has revoked a Police Commissioner decision not to renew the Private Guard licence held by Anton Mario Sciberras. The tribunal, presided over by Magistrate Gabriella Vella, called upon the Commissioner to reconsider Mr Sciberras' application for his licence to be renewed. It noted that, last November, the Commissioner refused to renew Mr Sciberras' licence on the basis that Mr Sciberras had been found guilty on charges of violating public trust. However, although Mr Sciberras had been charged in court with these offences he had been given a conditional discharge by the courts and could, therefore, not be deemed to be guilty of an offence. Mr Sciberras had admitted to complicity in procuring false declarations and certificates and to complicity in making false declarations. According to Mr Sciberras, the fact that the Magistrates Court had acquitted him of the charges but had conditionally discharged him for three years meant that the same court had acknowledged that he had not merited a prison sentence and that he deserved another chance. Magistrate Vella found in favour of Mr Sciberras and said that the Police Commissioner had...