The Labour Party insisted today that there was clear political involvement in the valuation of land in Mtahleb when compensation for it was issued at the time of the former government. 

It said e-mails showed that former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and the then minister responsible for lands Jason Azzopardi had not simply been copied in, but political direction had been given for land estimated at  €60,000 to be acquired for €400,000.

Two e-mails said that:

‘The Prime Minister has written to us re the current issue that we have...The Prime Minister has issued another valuation of our taken land in Mtahleb, by the then Government of Malta, to construct a public road. This new valuation amounts to €140,000 ...

"We accepted this last valuation and sent a letter of thanks to the Hon. Prime Minister on this valuation in monetary terms. We are aware that the office of the Prime Minister has advised you on the agreement."

The eventual compensation was of €400,000.

The PL said Opposition leader Simon Busuttil should not use two weights and two measures in his criticism. Nor should he try to hide wrongdoing as had been done in the case of  Giovanna Debono.

AZZOPARDI CALLS FOR PUBLICATION OF ALL THE FILE

In a reaction, Dr Azzopardi said the Lawrence Gonzi and himself had never negotiated compensation due with the individual concerned, "as Dr Muscat did in the Cafe Premier scandal bailout."

He called on the government to publish all the content of the file on the case.

"No red herring will divert attention from the huge corruption rocking the Police Corps and the Old Mint Street scandal, with Muscat looking on helplessly," he said.

The Mtahleb property was expropriated by a Labour government in 1974 but compensation was paid out by a PN government.

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