The controversial expropriation of half a property in Valletta involving Mark Gaffarena has exposed the need for reform in the Land Department, according to planning parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon.

The scandal exposed by Times of Malta is the subject of two investigations, one by the Auditor General and another by the Office of the Prime Minister’s internal investigations unit. Dr Falzon said the results would be considered and included in the planned reform.

Pressure has been mounting since this newspaper revealed the controversial €1.65 million expropriation in two separate contracts this year. On the second sale, Mr Gaffarena – notorious for illegalities related to the Qormi petrol station, among others – made a profit of €685,000 in just a few weeks.

In an interview held for today’s Times Talk TV programme, Dr Falzon denied the need for him to carry political responsibility, even though he was the one who approved the deal.

He repeatedly insisted he had not interfered in the negotiations, saying it no less than 12 times in a short interview. Pressed on the need for political responsibility, he acknowledged approving the deal but stopped there. “The political responsibility here is that I signed the deal, but I have to repeat I did not interfere in negotiations,” he said. He did commit to implementing the reform.

Read the interview in Times of Malta.