Ignatius Busuttil, the 59-year-old man who carried out a peaceful protest against the planning authority (MEPA) outside Castille last Friday was arrested, interrogated, and sent to Mount Carmel after the protest.

Mr Busuttil carried out similar protests last Monday and Tuesday, for which he was also questioned and warned by the police not to go to Castille again. In the official statement given to the police and signed by Mr Busuttil, he was asked why he wanted to speak to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, what he intended to say to Dr Muscat and what his grievances with MEPA are.

The police asked him whether he had ever tried to make a formal appointment with Dr Muscat or any other government officials. The police then asked Mr Busuttil whether he has any mental problems.

Speaking to this newsroom, Mr Busuttil said he saw a psychiatrist in 2011 when he was suffering from stress and sleep deprivation. He said this is no way means that he does not have the right to carry out peaceful protests like he did last week.

“I carried out a peaceful demonstration with my car and I was arrested by the Valletta police. They took me to the police depot in Valletta. All I did was park my car outside Castille with a few posters stuck to the window.”

“I was given a ticket for obstructing traffic. My car is tiny. Even if I parked it horizontally I would not have been obstructing traffic. Besides, ministers regularly park their cars all around Castille.”

Mr Busuttil was accused of disobeying police orders and obstructing traffic. During the initial questioning last Tuesday, the police warned Mr Busuttil not to “go to Castille again and break the law.”

After the Police arrested him on Friday they took him to the Valletta depot. He was then taken to the Floriana clinic and seen by a doctor. The doctor gave him an appointment to see a psychiatrist at Mater Dei the following morning.

Still under arrest at this point, the police then took Mr Busuttil back the depot and asked him to sign the statement which he had given them. The police then took him to Mater Dei where he was seen by another doctor. From there, he was transported under arrest to Mount Carmel via Ambulance.

Mr Busuttil said he was sent to Mount Carmel for three days but only ended up staying overnight.

“A professor was meant to come and see me on Monday, but instead he came on Saturday morning. My youngest son was there at the time too. The professor released me immediately. I spent a night at Mount Carmel....”