The Local Governance Bord said today it had found no wrongdoing by Marsacala Mayor Mario Calleja, who reached a ‘deal’ with the group behind the American University of Malta to build new company premises free of charge.

The Marsascala council had originally been in favour of the protection of ODZ land in Zonqor but changed its tune soon after the government officially announced that the AUM campus would be built there. It was implied that the free building offer was related to the council's change of heart.

The Local Governance Board said it had investigated out of its own initiative. It had also invited the Front Harsien ODZ, which had also called for an investigation, to present any proof or submissions it had. Mr Calleja was asked to make a written declaration and was also asked for a copy of the council meeting minutes.

The Board said it was not going into the merits of whether the AUM should be built in Zonqor - that was MEPA's responsibility - but looked into whether what was claimed in the media amounted to bribery and whether the Mayor acted unethically.

From the documentation presented it emerged that the developers first met the Local Council on 10 November 2015 at the WasteServ visitor’s facility. The meeting - aimed to familiarise the councillors with the university project - was organised by the Office of the Prime Minister. PN councilors John Baptist Camilleri, Charlot Cassar and Sandro Gatt did not attend the meeting.

The new council premises, for which the relevant MEPA permits had already been issued, were only mentioned after the meeting. Yusef Al Haroub asked if the Sadeen Group could help the local council in any way. At this point the Mayor and the Executive Secretary suggested that, if MEPA were to impose a planning gain on the group, part of the funds could be used to build the new council premises. Mr Haroub said he had no objection.

During the meeting the council also called for a solution to the long standing drainage problem and the lack of street lighting in the Zonqor area. It also asked for the construction of the old public latrine that was once situated in the area, insisting that it should be accessible to the public. 

The board noted that the council had voted in favour of the AUM project in May 2015. In a meeting held on 16 November the Mayor informed the council about the developments of the meeting held a few days earlier and none of the members disapproved.

In its conclusion, citing Local Government law, the board said that local councils were prohibited from giving donations but were not barred from receiving them, at least unless this compromised them in some way. It also noted that the government was seeking to increase cooperation between the public and private sectors with regards to public projects.

It was clear that this was not a case of personal gain since the public would benefit from the new council offices and ancillary facilities. The offer could not be considered a bribe since it was in the form of a planning gain, which is formulated, debated and allocated entirely by MEPA.

The Mayor’s request and Sadeen’s approval could also not be considered a bribe since the council had already expressed itself in favour of the AUM project many months earlier.

Mr Calleja, the board said, acted correctly by informing the council about the meeting with Sadeen, to which there was no objection or sign of disapproval.

The board said the Mayor and the Executive Secretary had acted correctly and did not breach the code of ethics. Media reports about the matter, it said, were as such unfounded. 

Decision confirms Mayor's innocence - PL

The local governance board decision not only confirms that the Mayor did nothing wrong, but also confirms that Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil does not want people from Marsascala to benefit from investment, a PL statement read.

“Busuttil attacked the investment in every way possible, however always found one large obstacle in his way – all the people from the south of Malta who recognise a sustainable development that will benefit them”.

 “It’s clear as day. The opposition was criticising investment in the South, and not trying to protect the environment”.