One of the planning authority’s top five officials was fired yesterday for having abusively given himself a company car despite receiving an allowance to use his own.

Ray Piscopo, director for corporate services, was responsible for the regulator’s finances and its car fleet, sources said.

The sources added that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority was alerted to the issue but it is not known how much Mr Piscopo’s car allowance amounted to or for how long he used a company car.

In a short statement yesterday evening, Mepa said the director, whom it did not name, was “asked to resign”.

It said it began investigating the allegation last week and found it to be true.

“The director was then asked to resign and his resignation was accepted,” Mepa added.

Mr Piscopo headed one of Mepa’s three directorates, the ­others being the development planning directorate and the environment protection directorate.

The other two top officials are the chairman and the CEO.