The closed Café Premier in Valletta. Photo: Jason Borg

A request filed by this newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act, to be granted access to the documentation related to the controversial €4.2 million deal involving Café Premier in Valletta, was turned down by the government.

In its reply, the Government Property Division said it could not acquiesce to the request due to an ongoing police investigation, citing part V and VI of the Act.

According to Article 30, a document may not be disclosed if this could “reasonably be expected to prejudice the conduct of an investigation of a breach, or possible breach, of the law, or a failure, or possible failure, to comply with a law relating to taxation or prejudice the enforcement or proper administration of the law in a particular instance”.

This deal was finalised last January when the Lands Department agreed to buy back the 65-year emphyteusis of the closed-down cafeteria located in a prime site of the capital. However, eyebrows were raised when it transpired that the owners, Cities Entertainment Limited, had their debts wiped out from tax-payers’ money.

These included an outstanding loan of some €2.5 million with Banif Bank, as well as income tax and VAT arrears, pending energy bills, ground rents and a number of creditors.

Subsequently, Opposition spokesman for home affairs Jason Azzopardi questioned if the government had been assisted by a consultant or if any commissions had been paid to secure the deal. Though the government had refuted such claims it had nevertheless requested the police to investigate these allegations. However, the authorities turned down requests filed by Times of Malta for the workings of this deal, including the govern-ment’s commercial valuation of the property.

Subsequently, this newspaper filed a request under the Freedom of Information act on March 14.

A government spokesman had justified the deal, saying it was in line with its policy not to have establishments which could endanger priceless documents of historical value housed in the Bibliotheca, which is located in the upper floors of the same building. He added that the acquisition of this site would also help improve public accessibility.