An appeals court this morning confirmed the acquittal of two former members of the Development Control Commission, who had been accused of exercising private interest in the adjudication of an outline permit for a controversial open-air disco in Mistra.

Magistrate Edwina Grima had found that the elements of the crime had not been proven and the two men were “of a certain professional integrity” and “could never be found guilty”.

This was primarily because evidence showed they had no private interest in voting for the outline development permit that, in itself, did not lead to the development going ahead.

The Appeals Court, presided by Mr Justice Michael Mallia, declared this morning that the first court had made a correct interpretation of the law.

Their arraignment followed a three-month police investigation that was launched after the Labour Party, shortly before the March 2008 general election, alleged there was corruption in the way the permit was issued for the land owned by then Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

Lawyers Joseph Giglio, Stephen Tonna Lowell and Peter Fenech represented the two men.