The former consultant to the Malta Tourism Authority, George Micallef, has been acquitted of making a false declaration in the case over an application to the planning authority for a disco at Mistra.

The case first came to light when former Labour Party leader Alfred Sant accused former Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, the owner of the land, of corruption.

The case against Mr Micallef revolves around a report he had prepared for the MTA before preparing a second to back a development application for the disco at Mistra.

During the case Police Inspector Ian Abdilla said that Mr Micallef had told the police he had been asked by Mr Pullicino Orlando to write a favourable report about the proposed discotheque.

Mr Micallef said that, irrespective of this, he would have still recommended the project from a purely touristic point of view.

Two other men were also charged over the issue and acquitted in 2008. Philip Azzopardi, former chairman of a Development Control Commission (DCC) board, and Anthony Mifsud, a former board member, were charged with taking a private interest in the adjudication of the permit.

Mr Micallef’s lawyer Joe Giglio told the court in submissions before judgment that it should not have to be Mr Micallef to prove his innocence, but it should be up to the prosecution to prove his guilt.

However, his client was not guilty of drawing up a false report, and every witness for the prosecution had shown this. They had also not incorrect.

Even Sam Mifsud, the former chairman of the MTA, had declared, publicly and in court, that he stood by the report, Dr Giglio said.

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia ruled the prosecution had not satisfactorily proved that Mr Micallef intended to make a false declaration or give mis-leading information to theplanning authority.

Lawyer Steve Tonna Lowell also appeared for Mr Micallef.