Minister Owen Bonnici this evening said that if the auditor general is to investigate the transfer of land at Old Mint Street, he should also investigate transfer of lands in previous years.

He mentioned the Fekruna case in Xemxija, the former HSBC building in Republic Street, land in Spinola Bay and the Lowenbrau factory. He said that should be part and parcel with the recent request.

He was speaking at the start of the Public Accounts Committee which is meant to discuss the Individual Investor Programme.

Tonio Fenech said that the request to the AG was made by three individual MPs and not the public accounts committee and therefore the request should be approved by them. He said that these should be separate cases.

Dr Bonnici said that this will allow the public to be more knowledgeable; given the Gaffarena case is similar.

PN’s deputy leader Mario De Marco said that the request to have all inquiries in one is totally unacceptable, because the AG has already started investigations on the Gaffarena's case. He said that the government has every right to request an inquiry, but not merge it with other cases.

He said that the AG should decide how long an inquiry takes.