The police have been asked to investigate three men, including the former Żabbar mayor, over the secret recording of conversations in a bid to entrap somebody.

Two CDs containing illegally-obtained discussions were passed on to the police, a spokesman for the Parliamentary Secretariat for Local Government confirmed.

The CDs were presented to the Local Governance Board during its probe into illegalities committed by the Żabbar local council, specifically about irregularities by former mayor Quinton Scerri.

Mr Scerri resigned his post last week after the board, in its report, heavily chastised him for having led the organisation in a way that was not even fitting of a band club, let alone a council. The board said Mr Scerri was not a credible or reliable person.

The damning report said Mr Scerri had acted irresponsibly and outside the law. He is contesting the conclusions and plans to take legal action.

He is also claiming he was denied a fair hearing.

The board, headed by lawyer and former Labour international secretary Joe Mifsud, said Mr Scerri’s strong showing at the polls “must have gone to his head” and prompted him to forget all procedures about the way a council was run.

“Mr Scerri managed things in an irresponsible and amateur way that does not even befit a band club, let alone a local government,” it added.

It said Mr Scerri had acted outside the law when he set up an action team to organise cultural events without seeking the council’s approval.

None of the councillors knew who the team members were and no financial records were presented for the organisation of two events last year, the report said.

It was the same board that recommended the recordings be passed to the police for investigation, saying they were illegal and an attempt to entrap a person.

In one of the recordings, contractor Christopher Bonnici is heard saying he expected to be given preferred treatment because he had helped Mr Scerri in his election. In the other, presented by witness Joseph Cassar, a councillor is heard reacting angrily. The board said the police should investigate Mr Cassar, Mr Bonnici and Mr Scerri.

The spokesman for the local government secretariat also confirmed that Mr Scerri’s resignation letter had been received and that the Electoral Commission had been informed to start the process for a replacement.

The Labour-led Żabbar council has eight Labour councillors and three representing the Nationalist Party.