Jason Azzopardi has submitted his latest request for a Magisterial Inquiry this time over the sale of public property by the LANDS department at steep discount prices. This is the second request by Jason Azzopardi for a Magisterial Inquiry this month following his report over alleged bribes in relation to a road constructed by the Ministry of Gozo.
In his latest report, Jason Azzopardi once again sources his information from extension investigations by The Shift News. The investigations highlight in particular four public properties which were sold to Labour Party associates and party donors at very cheap prices compared to their market value. The first property consists of a plot of land in Mellieħa sold to GAP Developments for the total sum of €5.4 but the market value is estimated at up to €20 million. GAP of Paul Attard, who is also the secretary-general of the Malta Developers Association, is a political donor of Silvio Schembri, the Minister of the Economy. The Lands Department, run by CEO Robert Vella also falls under the portfolio of the Ministry of Economy.
The second case is about a public property in Gozo sold to Ronnie and William Gatt (Ta’ Gianmaria) which had already been developed as part of an apartment block with the LANDS CEO Robert Vella failing to report to the Planning authority that the land was already developed without a permit. The third property consists of a sea-side commercial outlet sold to Ivan Vassallo of Technoline. Both Robert Vella and Ivan Vassallo have been members of the Simon Cusens‘ Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta, and Robert Vella is still a member as far as I know. The fourth property concerns the public alley sold to Antoine Camilleri (Tal-Franciz) which will be incorporated in the Villa Rosa project.
The CEO of the Lands Department Robert Vella is a political appointee by the Office of the Prime Minister with a long history of scandals under his watch.
You can read the full report by Jason Azzopardi here.
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