Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has asked the Auditor General to investigate the lawyer who runs the Prime Minister's legal office after he was given a direct order to represent Festivals Malta to the tune of €17,000.

In his letter, Cassola said that the lawyer, Ryan Pace, is already serving in 10 appointments that he was given by Abela.

These are Chairman Malta Gaming Authority, Director ARMS Limited, Director Gozo Heliport Ltd, Director Malta Government Investments Ltd, Director Malta Investment Management Company Limited, Director Malta Film Commission, Secretary Engineering Resources Ltd, Secretary Mediterranean Offshore Bunkering Company Ltd, Legal advisor Malta Tourism Authority and Legal Advisor Aġenzija Support.

Can the Auditor General establish how much Pace is being paid for in each of these roles and whether they were given by direct order or after a public call, Cassola said.

Does it make sense that the lawyer who runs the Prime Minister's legal office is given roles paid for by the Dtate? Should not these positions be distributed among other qualified persons, Cassola asked.

NGO Il-Kollettiv, reacting to the request for investigation, said that Pace is also the lawyer who appeared for Secretary General of the Malta Developers Association Pail Attard, for the controversial Mellieha Heights development.

"The permit for Attard was issued by the PA in a record time of two months," the NGO said, adding that two days after the issuing of the permit, Prime Minister Robert Abela said he gave a directive to the Lands Department to no longer sell public land for private development.

"Robert Abela is clearly toying with the sentiments of the Mellieha residents. On one hand he gives them false hope without saying that he will revoke the land, on the other a protégé in his legal studio who is earning 11 wages from the public is appearing before a public authority representing private interests that go against the Prime Minister's own directive."

The posts given to pace show the ties between Abela and Attard, the NGO said, asking if Abela has any interest in the Mellieha Heights project going ahead. It called for Pace's removal from his positions saying that his private work "goes against the interests of the public who pay his wages," Il-Kollettiv said.