Freeport architect was Polidano's consultant

The Freeport's architect, Joe Bugeja, was a consultant for Polidano Brothers, the company under investigation for dumping construction waste at sea using the port's quays as a base. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority confirmed yesterday that in 2004 Mr Bugeja was on Polidano Brothers' payroll.

Mr Bugeja is responsible for overseeing the dumping at sea from the Freeport's quays.

His involvement with Polidano Brothers was hinted at by Alternattiva Demokratika and the Labour Party last week but no names were mentioned.

When first contacted about the use of the Freeport for the illegal dumping at sea last Wednesday, Mr Bugeja could not explain how the trucks had got onto the port's premises and said he was only aware of material derived from Freeport projects.

On Friday, however, he said the Freeport was making available part of its quay to be used by "third parties" for the purposes of berthing barges and unloading material onto barges.

The terminal's chairman, Ube Malezki, was not aware of the agreement. "We may have had an agreement with this company, I don't know... However, we have now been told by Mepa to stop and we did.

"This is not our core business. Frankly, we don't need this," he said.

Last Friday, however, Mr Malezki dismissed Mr Bugeja's involvement with Polidano Brothers as an allegation, saying he would only comment if evidence was presented to him.

The evidence surfaced yesterday in the form of a Mepa statement but Mr Malezki was abroad and could not be reached for comment. Mr Bugeja was also unavailable. Asked last Friday about his involvement as a consultant with Polidano Brothers, he said his private practice was not subject to public review.

Mepa said it had terminated Mr Bugeja's previous assignment to monitor the dumping of construction waste in exhausted quarries - many of which belong to Polidano Brothers - after the company declared he was on their payroll back in May 2004.

After media reports surfaced regarding the dumping at sea of construction waste off the Freeport, the authority had asked the police to investigate "illegal activities".

After confirming there was no permit to cover the dumping at sea, Mepa inspectors put a stop to it. Fresh reports say the dumping had resumed.