JPO denies putting pressure in Mistra case

Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando yesterday insisted that the way he acted in regard to the Mistra development application was the same as the manner in which any other MP dealt with applications when asked to help constituents.

Dr Pullicino Orlando was giving evidence in the case against Philip Azzopardi, 57, and Anthony Mifsud, 50, former chairman and a member of the Development Control Commission respectively, who are alleged to have had private interests in the adjudication process of the application to build a disco in Mistra on land owned by the Nationalist MP.

The Nationalist MP categorically denied exerting any pressure so that the application process would be speeded up and said the accused had no private interests in the application.

The Mistra Bay application became highly controversial before the last general election after the Labour Party accused the Nationalist MP of corruption over the case. The land in question is part of a protected tract in the Mistra area.

Testifying yesterday, Dr Pullicino Orlando said he rented the land out to Dominic Micallef. An application was then submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the development of an outdoor entertainment area. Mr Micallef had explained to him that the project involved more landscaping than actual paving, he said.

Dr Pullicino Orlando told the court that just like every Member of Parliament did, he contacted the Mepa liaison officer, Lawrence Vassallo, whenever he needed to speak to him about a development application.

In the same way as Mr Micallef had done, his constituents would go to him to see what progress had been made on their application.

On some occasions, such as with the Mistra development, Mr Vassallo felt the need to discuss particular points and called meetings for this purpose, Dr Pullicino Orlando said.

The architect of the project, Paul Camilleri, had the greatest input during the meetings. They were very normal meetings, held by appointment and in Mr Vassallo's office as there was nothing to hide. In fact, before the meetings, Dr Pullicino Orlando would have to wait outside the office with other members of the public and other MPs from both sides.

When asked how many meetings were held, he replied that there had been three, spread over a number of months.

When asked if had had put any pressure on the accused to speed up the proceedings, Dr Pullicino Orlando said "absolutely not", adding that he never had any direct input in the application submitted by the Malta Tourism Authority to embellish the bay.

He said he never promised or offered anything to the accused and the accused had no private interest in the application.