DCC board members explain their vote in Mistra case

A Development Control Commission (DCC) board member voted for the proposed Mistra disco because of a favourable Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) report while another voted against because of environmental issues, a court heard yesterday.

DCC board members who issued an outline permit for a disco at Mistra gave evidence in the case against Philip Azzopardi, 57, of Naxxar and Anthony Mifsud, 50, of Birżebbuġa. The accused, respectively the chairman and a member of the DCC board, are alleged to have had private interests in the adjudication process.

Testifying, architect Charles Calleja said he had voted against the project for two reasons. The first was because the disco was to be built in a quiet bay and the second because access to coaches taking young people there would be difficult.

Another board member, Carmel Portelli, said he could recall a long presentation about the project in the presence of the applicant. He voted in favour because of the favourable MTA report.

He added that the MTA had a second application to refurbish the site.

He also told the court that he had worked with the accused Mr Azzopardi for two years and was never influenced by him in any way. Lawrence Vassallo, a liaison officer at Mepa, had asked him to give the project some importance because of its impact on tourism.

A third witness, architect Mark Azzopardi, who joined the board last year, said he voted against the project because he did not believe this sort of development was suitable for that area, although the MTA report was favourable.

Architect Charles Spiteri told the court he attended the sitting during which the vote was taken last November but left early to buy a birthday present for his father and he was almost certain he did not vote.

He added that during the meeting the commission members were given a case summary and an MTA report which was favourable to the project. The case officer's report recommended a refusal of the application. He said the MTA report was the determining factor in the decision.

He said he never met anyone outside the commission meetings about the case.

Police Inspector Ian Abdilla prosecuted.

Lawyers Joe Giglio, Stephen Tonna Lowell and Peter Fenech appeared for Mr Azzopardi and Mr Mifsud.