Businessman Mark Gaffarena has been found guilty by the courts of illegally keeping a range of exotic and dangerous animals, including a puma, tigers and a lemur, at two separate sites in Żebbuġ and Qormi.

Gaffarena, who became widely known following his involvement in a controversial Valletta expropriation case in 2015, had once pursued plans to establish a private zoo in Żebbuġ. Those plans were ultimately rejected by the Planning Authority.

On Tuesday, the court ruled that despite the refusal of his application, Gaffarena continued to keep several wild animals without the required permits, in enclosures deemed unsafe and unsuitable, and without proper registration with the relevant authorities.

Court proceedings heard how, in 2016, Gaffarena had applied for an amnesty scheme allowing the regularisation of certain dangerous animals. His application included a puma, a lion, four monkeys and a lemur housed at the Żebbuġ site. However, the request was turned down after inspections revealed additional unlisted animals being kept in substandard conditions.

Officials from the Veterinary Regulation Directorate testified that subsequent inspections over the years uncovered inconsistencies in the animals present on site. In a 2019 inspection, the lion listed in the application was no longer found and was believed to have died, while three tigers and additional monkeys had appeared. By 2023, inspectors reported further changes, including the disappearance of the lemur cage, with only the puma and tigers observed at the location.

Investigations also revealed a second, undeclared site in Tal-Ħandaq, Qormi, where additional wild animals were being kept without authorisation. This included lions, leopards, tigers relocated from Żebbuġ, and more monkeys.

Inspectors described poor conditions at the Żebbuġ facility, citing cramped and dirty enclosures, water damage, and structural issues, including a partial collapse of an indoor section. One witness told the court the enclosures were "not adequate to host the animals" and in a poor state of repair.

In her judgment, Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech said Gaffarena kept the animals "for his own enjoyment, without the slightest thought for their welfare".

In total, the court found that 18 animals had been kept illegally. However, it was noted that the prosecution did not conclusively prove that the animals had suffered physical pain or a lack of food.

Gaffarena was sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended for 30 months, fined €32,000, and banned from applying for any animal-keeping permits for 15 years. The animals were ordered to be confiscated at his expense.