‘Lies And Fabrications’: Robert Abela Denies Claims That He Is Involved In Supermarket Application On ODZ
Prime Minister Robert Abela has vehemently denied allegations that he is behind the supermarket application on ODZ land in San Ġwann.
Lawyer and former PN MP Jason Azzopardi accused Abela of sending someone to buy a San Ġwann farm that is located on the proposed site for this supermarket on his behalf while knowing of the intended application.
Two weeks ago, Azzopardi claimed that a sale was made of a farm in San Ġwann for €7 million. The sale was made by someone “in good faith” who allegedly didn’t know that the woman he was selling the farm to was acting on behalf of someone who has been “speaking a lot about the establishment lately”.
Azzopardi is presumably referring to Abela.
“What he (the seller) did not know was that he who is talking about the establishment knew that the land on which the farm is located was going to be included in an application for a huge supermarket, all on ODZ land.”
He continued to formally request an investigation by the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) into every sale of land on this site during the last three years, “if they do their job properly, they should find the leader is in Castille and responsible for the abuse”.
Speaking to Lovin Malta, a spokesperson for Abela claimed that Azzopardi has become “notorious for spreading malicious and utterly false rumours, lies and fabrications. This happens to be yet another one of them.”
With regard to the situation in general, Abela stated that the planning application is a “non-starter both from a planning perspective and also in the context of the government’s environmental vision and beliefs, and those of the Labour Party.”
“San Ġwann Mayor Trevor Fenech and the said Local Council have the government’s full backing in their objection to the proposed project,” he continued.
Earlier today, Times of Malta revealed that a planning application to build a supermarket on 7,000 square-metres of ODZ land was submitted. This received fierce backlash with the adjacent school – St Michael’s Foundation – objecting the proposal and sending out a letter urging others to do so too.
Meanwhile, former student and current Swieqi local council candidate also objected the plans, writing “Aqta’ Fjura u Ibni Supermarket” on his social media to highlight the disrespect toward the environment. Labour CEO Randolph De Battista shared a similar sentiment, saying that anyone who tries to build on ODZ land has no respect for society.
The mayor of the locality declared his plans to object the application while saying that he is confident in the cause since Abela supported the objection.
What are your thoughts on this?
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