Opposition spokesman for planning and simplification process Ryan Callus said today that the Lands Commissioner who resigned earlier this week did so due to political interference.

Mr Callus was speaking during a news conference held outside the government property department, Auberge de Baviere, in Valletta.

Joe Bugeja, Commissioner for Land since 2012, resigned this week but did not give a reason why, except to the minister concerned.

 “I can tell you that I’ve decided to resign. However, although I’ve explained the reasons for my resignation to the minister, I don’t wish to elaborate further at this stage,” he was reported to have said.

Mr Callus pointed out that Mr Bugeja is a highly qualified person but could not take it any longer that he was being sidelined on certain pertinent issues, such as the case of Australia Hall and the Café Premier 4.2 million euro bail out.

He said that a consultant to the Prime Minister, John Sciberras, was the one who decided how much Café Premier should be awarded and not Mr Bugeja.

Mr Callus also highlighted that Mr Bugeja had admitted to the Public Accounts Committee which had discussed the Australia Hall issue, that he was not involved in the process leading to the property in question being awarded to the Labour Party, who in turn has sold it to third parties who intend using the site for commercial purposes.

Another point raised by Mr Callus was that a telephone line, 1157, which had been specially set up before the March 2013 election for anonymous callers to report land illegalities, was not available any longer, claiming it was removed after the March general election.

Mr Callus urged the public to report any alleged illegalities to the Opposition, who in turn would bring them to light.

The Lands Department has been in the news following some controversial decisions including the halt to court action against the Labour Party over Australia Hall and the payment of €4.2 million to a private company so the government could take back a property in Valletta used by Cafe Premier. The property actually belongs to the government and had been leased on emphyteusis.

When asked by journalists on Tal-Fekruna, a piece of property in Xemxija Bay which was demolished prior to the last general election to be restored to its original state, after the then government expropriated the land, Mr Callus said that this piece of property was demolished by a PN government due to the fact that it was serving as a place for individuals to use drugs and this case can never be compared to the cases of Cafe Premier or Australia Hall.

The restaurant had closed down years before it was demolished and was in a dilapidated and dangerous state.