The Malta Police Association (MPA) has filed a lawsuit against the Police Commissioner, the Home Affairs Minister , and Obelisk Auctions Ltd, requesting a court confirm their right to participate in a judicial sale by auction.

The auction of weapons and police vehicles was suspended last February after a court granted an injunction to the MPA.

The MPA is contesting a rule that prohibits public officers from bidding on the items.

In total some 129 ex-service vehicles and nearly 800 weapons,which had either been issued to police officers or had been impounded as part of investigations, were planned to be sold by auction to collectors.

Public officers, however, are automatically excluded from the auction and prospective buyers are required to sign a declaration stating that they are not public officers before being allowed to bid.

This last requirement led the Police Association and the two public officers - Malcolm Bondin and Frankie Sammut- to apply for the injunction claiming it was illegal and discriminatory.

The police union said it has filed the case in court because no progress has been registered in over three months of negotiations between the parties.