Updated | Police investigating Polidano following lioness attack

Construction magnate Charles Polidano, also known as ic-Caqnu, may be arraigned in court imminently following an attack by a lioness yesterday at his unlicensed zoo.

Sources have told MaltaToday that the police were planning on arraigning Polidano today, however the investigation is still ongoing.

Polidano spent the night under arrest as police interrogated him over the incident in which a five-year-old boy was attacked by the lioness.

The zoo had been shut down by authorities following a similar incident in November.

The Montekristo Estate is replete with illegalities and the Planning Authority is in the process of removing other illegalities.

Addressing a press conference on the launch of the new Planning Authority – to replace MEPA – junior minister Deborah Schembri confirmed that a meeting was held at Castille last night to discuss the way forward with regards to illegalities at Montekristo.

Schembri however hinted that enforcement action was complicated because the welfare of the animals, some of which protected, had to be safeguarded.

“We have to ensure that any enforcement is done in a legal framework and without causing more harm.”