A bar in Buġibba will be sold by judicial auction by court order following a divorce decree issued in Britain.

John Attard filed an action before Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco against his former wife Carol saying the couple, who divorced in England in 2006, were the owners of Ankra Pub in Buġibba. The divorce decree had stipulated that, after the sale of the bar, Mrs Attard was to receive 60 per cent of the proceeds with Mr Attard taking the rest. However, Mrs Attard had refused to sell the bar even though about three persons had expressed an interest in buying it.

The court was, therefore, requested to order the judicial sale by auction of the property so that the proceeds could be divided between the parties in terms of the foreign decree.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco concluded that a judicial sale by auction could be ordered when a property was held by more than one owner and there was disagreement between the parties. The property had also to be such that it could not be physically divided between the parties.

The court upheld Mr Attard's request and ordered that the bar be sold by judicial auction.