The man who launched his own investigation into the redevelopment of rural property by Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg, testified in front of the Permanent Commission against Corruption last Wednesday.

Contacted by this newsroom, and asked about the progress on his request for investigation by the authorities, Noel Ciantar said that his testimony was given under oath. It is understood that the Commission investigation is under way.

He could not give further details as the law states the investigation will be held in private.

Mr Ciantar, a Rabat farmer who is also qualified as an accountant, carried out his own investigation into the case after reports on the proposed development in the limits of Rabat surfaced on the media, alleging that planning policies were breached to allow the redevelopment of the site by Dr Ian Borg.

He had referred the case to the Permanent Commission Against Corruption, the Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner for Environment and Planning in the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, and the Speaker of the House of the Representatives.

The case concerns a property in Santa Katerina, on the boundary between Rabat and Dingli.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s online map server had shown that there have been two attempts to demolish the existing structure and build a new, more extensive property.

The first application was filed in April 2012 by a Kenneth Bugeja, for the “demolition of existing abandoned house, excavation, construction of a new terraced house.”

But the case officer assigned recommended refusal of the project, in line with the objections of the natural heritage panel of the Heritage Advisory Committee.

“The proposed height and design of the new terraced house are not in keeping with the characteristics of the Category 3 settlement and would create a negative visual impact. The adjacent third party development was approved at appeals stage and had the panel been consulted, it would have recommended a refusal. The application therefore cannot be recommended,” the committee said.

A second application to redevelop the property soon followed: it was filed on 12 June, 2014.

The new application – to “demolish existing substandard structures with no rural value and construct two residential dwellings” – was filed by a Renald Azzopardi, and was not under Dr Borg’s name.

Mr Azzopardi is listed as the site manager in the billboard displayed on site in line with environmental management construction site regulations, while Dr Borg is listed as the owner.

While the application was different to the 2012 one, the HAC’s natural panel once more opposed the plans, lamenting the progressive ruin of Santa Katerina’s rural character.

“This small rural hamlet is gradually being redeveloped into a modern ‘apartment style’ settlement, changing completely the rural character of the area and the surrounding landscape. With regards to the current application, notwithstanding the attempt made by the architect in trying to retain the rural appearance through the proposed treatment of the elevations, the panel considers that the proposed development is excessive both in density and especially in mass. This would have a negative impact on the rural character of the area,” the panel said before recommending refusal.

The same case officer as the previous application was assigned and he recommended the application for approval. MEPA’s Environment and Planning Commission ultimately chose to follow her recommendation.

The original structure, which consisted of domestic stores at ground floor level, a dwelling at first floor level and disused rooms at first and second floor levels, has since been demolished.

While the original structure had a footprint of just 95 square metres, the new proposed building would have a footprint of approximately 150 square metres, according to the case officer’s report.

The planned structure, comprising a basement and two dwellings, should have a total floor space of 489 square metres.

Dr Borg had, at the time, denied the allegations made against him, that there was an abuse of power in the process of issuing a development permit. He also pointed out that he has the right to take out loans, purchase, apply and build a private residence, just as any other citizen has. He had also said that he will leave the matter in the hands of those who ‘have the power to investigate with absolute freedom’, given that a request was made for investigation by a private citizen.