The Nationalist Party today said the government has yet to answer questions raised by Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil last Sunday as to who property developer Marco Gaffarena is bribing.

Addressing a press conference, the shadow spokesperson for planning Ryan Callus said the government’s silence clearly shows it has something to hide.

Shadow minister for justice Jason Azzopardi said Mr Gaffarena clearly has access to high-level information, as expropriation requests usually come from heads of department or politicians.

Dr Azzopardi questioned why Mr Gaffarena would attempt to buy a palazzo in Valletta hosting a police station, if he did not know the government planned to expropriate it.

The owners of this property said that when Mr Gaffarena approached them, he told them that the government is interested in buying it, Dr Azzopardi said.

This clearly shows the intimate relationship between Mr Gaffarena and the government, Dr Azzopardi continued.

He said Interior Minister Carmelo Abela must clearly state if the government intends to expropriate this property.

Turning his guns on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Dr Azzopardi said the PM clearly does not have the will to fight corruption, despite statements to the contrary. 

Mark Gaffarena made a killing when the government purchased a quarter of a Valletta property off him in January, and another quarter in April with a total compensation package worth €1.65 million. In another scandal, Mr Gaffarena obtained two pieces of land 'given' to him by the government in the limits of Zebbug, behind the Tac-Cavett illegal premises in Qormi. He was also 'given' a third plot which is near the illegal venue.

The internal audit and investigations department will extend its investigation into the Gaffarena to include this latest allegation, on a request by the Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Michael Falzon, a government spokesperson confirmed.