The 108-page-long application mentioned several controversial deals that put public land into the hands of private individuals or entities. Most of the investigations referenced found that valuable public land was given to private developers for a fraction of what it was worth. All of these suspicious deals would have been signed off by Vella.

The urgent request mentioned the Mellieħa Heights decision which saw the Planning Authority’s approve the transformation of a green lung into a 109-unit apartment block. This plot of land was sold to developers on a 50-year perpetual revisable emphyteusis against an annual payment of €380,000 despite being valued at over €12 million.

It also referenced the Villa Rosa project. On the eve of the last General Election, the Lands Authority issued a tender for the sale of a public alley in St George’s Bay. This alley split the grounds of the mega-development in two, acting as a crucial piece of land for the developer Anton Camilleri.

Camilleri was the sole bidder and the land, valued at almost €3 million, was sold to him for €134,000.

Another case flagged in Azzopardi’s request concerns Pierre Sladden who was charged in connection to the fraudulent hospitals’ concession. This case is related to land in Armier which Sladden wanted to use to build a seaside restaurant. The land was once managed by his grandfather and later ended in the hands of Sladden’s cousin. The cousin was then evicted by the Lands Authority which proceeded to reissue it for a lease. This was won by Eurybates Ltd, a company owned by Sladden’s business partner and co-defendant Ivan Vassallo.

Do you think this request for a magisterial inquiry should be accepted?