A lawyer chosen by seven councils to act as prosecutor before the local tribunal did not have the required qualifications, a competitor for the tender has claimed.

Lawyer Ivan Sammut said the chosen lawyer did not have enough experience as stipulated in the tender document and he should therefore have been disqualified.

Dr Sammut filed a judicial protest against the Żejtun, Għaxaq, Gudja, Marsaxlokk, Paola, Santa Luċija and Tarxien local councils, the Group G Joint Committee, its secretary John Bonavia and authorised officer David Soler. The protest was also filed against lawyer Joseph Mifsud, who was chosen for the job.

Dr Sammut argued that one of the conditions in the tender document was that the bidder had to have "at least five years experience in the courts of justice". Yet, the contract had been awarded to Dr Mifsud who graduated in 2006 and was granted a warrant to practise as a lawyer in 2007.

Dr Sammut submitted that Dr Mifsud's selection breached the tender conditions and was therefore abusive and illegal.

Three bids were made, including one each by Dr Mifsud and Dr Sammut. The third bidder was disqualified immediately because he had not filed his tender as required.

Dr Sammut called on the councils and the joint committee to withdraw the contract immediately and held them responsible for damages. Lawyer Gianfranco Gauci and Legal Procurator Sharon Mizzi signed the judicial protest.