The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) withdrew its outline development application to upgrade Mistra Bay after three quarters of the proposal was rejected by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa), an MTA architect told a court yesterday.
Architect Alfred Grech took the witness stand during the compilation of evidence against Philip Azzopardi, 57, and Anthony Mifsud, 59, respectively former chairman and board member of the commission within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. They are facing charges of having private interests in a public adjudication process.
Mr Grech, who at the time acted as a consultant to MTA, told the court, presided over by Magistrate Edwina Grima, that Mepa had turned down most of MTA’s proposals and this made the tourism authority withdraw its application.
The permit, which Mr Grech said was aimed to embellish Mistra Bay which had been abandoned for some 30 years, was amalgamated with an application for a discotheque on land belonging to Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.
The MP’s name was thrown in the ring as tempers flared over a question asked by the prosecution on whether JPO had exercised any pressure on the witness. The defence protested vigorously at the question and reminded the prosecution that the current proceedings were against Mr Azzopardi and Mr Mifsud, not against JPO.
At this point, defence lawyer Joseph Giglio asked the prosecution to withdraw its case if it had no evidence against his clients.
Mr Grech told the court that George Micallef, an MTA consultant, had asked him to turn the application into a full development proposal after he proposed the outline development proposal.
Mr Micallef is separately facing charges with giving false information in connection with the building the night club on the land owned by MP Pullicino Orlando.
Architect Grech said Mr Micallef told him he was under pressure to have the application swiftly pushed through; however, he said he never learnt who was exerting pressure on Mr Micallef.
The witness recalled seeing JPO at a meeting between architects, their clients and Mepa officials; however, he never learnt why the MP was present.
Police Inspectors Angelo Gafà and Ian Abdilla prosecuted while lawyers Joseph Giglio, Stephen Tonna Lowell and Peter Fenech represented the accused.