The owner of land in Bahrija where the development of a controversial farmhouse has been approved stopped development last Monday to give the Mepa chairman and the Police Commissioner time to investigate his behaviour and involvement in the process.

The development is being opposed by a number of environment organisations and a protest on site was organised yesterday.

PN president Victor Scerri, who owns the land, said in a statement this evening that the work would not be continuing until the investigation and verification processes were concluded and he would take decisions according to what these established.

He said that all the work which had been carried out was covered by permits issued according to law and although he could legally continue with the works, he voluntarily decided to stop without any prejudice.

Dr Scerri hoped that the verification process would be carried out fairly and objectively in view of the policies and their interpretation as they were applied for other permits since 1992.

He hoped that this verification would not be influenced by factors based on the motives of a person from a particular political side.

The PN president said he was amazed how those who were now conveniently riding on public emotion without respect to the formal process which took nearly 10 years had remained silent about other outside development zone permits belonging to people they might have not had so much interest in attacking.

He concluded that in the end, truth would always prevail.