Labour MP Marlene Farrugia has taken the government to task over The Malta Independent’s story about a man who was taken to Mount Carmel Hospital for treatment after staging a protest outside the Prime Minister’s office in Castille.

Writing on her Facebook page on the incident, the outspoken MP said that "if the government wishes to hang on to what's left of its credibility, the public deserves a proper explanation of how incidents like this are allowed (if not made) to happen in our country."

Ignatius Busuttil, 59, man was arrested, interrogated, and sent to Mount Carmel after the protest earlier this month.

Mr Busuttil was 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.

Speaking to this newsroom, Mr Busuttil said he “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.”

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

Asked about the protest, FAA coordinator Astrid Vella told The Malta Independent on Monday that if Mr Busuttil was taken to Mount Carmel for protesting against Mepa, then she should be there too given that she has been vocal about the way the authority operates.

Man arrested after Castille protest

Astrid Vella