A former chairman of a MEPA Development Control Commission said today that he had voted in favour of the development of an open air disco on MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's property in Mistra on the basis of the MP's insistence that it would benefit tourism.

Philip Azzopardi said in court that Dr Pullicino Orlando did not show the real reason why he was at MEPA meetings and kept insisting that the project be approved because of tourism.

Mr Azzopardi and a former member of the DCC board, Anthony Mifsud, stand charged with trading in influence in the case.

Mr Azzopardi said he did not know that the land belonged to Dr Pullicino Orlando when he attended a meeting with him and an authority liaison officer during which the MP pushed the case for development.

He would not have voted in favour of the project had it not been attached to an MTA application for embellishment of the general area, Mr Azzopardi said.

The former chairman broke down in tears as he described how the police had interrogated him by calling him corrupt and telling him that he had robbed Malta.

He said that during the meetings, Dr Pullicino Orlando acted in a very normal, civilised manner and highlighted the project's importance to the tourism sector.

The case continues.