Circus legal wrangling rambles on, promoter arrested

Circus promoter Johann Said, is being held by the police after resisting Police orders who remain defiant in refusing to issue the necessary licence for the circus to be set up in Floriana.

The Police have confirmed that Said, an entrepreneur and former Floriana Football Clun president, was being interrogated.

Said is furious that he was still not being allowed to set up the Italian circus in Floriana despite a tribunal decision ordering the Police Commissioner to issue the necessary licence.

Johann Said yesterday filed a judicial protest against Commissioner John Rizzo, less than 24 hours after the Administrative Review Tribunal had instructed the police to allow the circus to be set up.

In the protest, Said explained that he had requested a licence to set up a circus in a car park in Floriana until 6 January. Following the Police refusal, Said recurred to the Police Licences Appeals Tribunal, which decided in his favour.

Despite this decision, Commissioner Rizzo persisted in refusing Said's application because of a new policy saying that open spaces in Floriana ­­­should not be occupied by circuses.

Following this refusal, the circus promoter turned to the Administrative Review Tribunal, where Magistrate Gabriella Vella ruled on Monday that the Commissioner had acted in an abusive manner.

Despite both tribunals ruled in Said's favour, Rizzo is adamant in refusing to issue the permit despite the circus promoter's warning that the Police would be held responsible for any damages.