Some of the members of the MEPA Development Control Commission (DCC) board which issued an outline permit for a disco at Mistra gave evidence in court today in the case against Philip Azzopardi, 57, from Naxxar and Anthony Mifsud, 50, from Birżebbuġa. The accused are alleged to have had private interests in the adjudication process. They were respectively the chairman and a member of the DCC board.

Architect Charles Spiteri said he was present for the sitting when the vote was taken last November but he left early to buy a gift for his father and he was almost certain he did not vote. He said that during the meeting the commission members were given a case summary and a Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) report which was favourable to the project. The case officer report recommended a refusal for the application. He said the MTA report was determinant for the decision. Mr Spiteri said he had never met anyone outside the commission meetings about the case.

Architect Charles Calleja said he had voted against the project because the disco was to be built in a serene and quiet bay and somebody had said to him that coachloads of young people would end up going there for the disco and access for the coaches was difficult.

Carmel Portelli said he could recall a long presentation about the project in the presence of the applicant. He voted in favour of the project because of the favourable MTA report. He said the MTA also had a second application to refurbish the site. Mista, he said, already featured a restaurant and a recording studio. He said he had worked with Philip Azzopardi for two years and was never influenced in any way by him. Mr Portelli said Lawrence Vassallo, a liaison officer at MEPA had asked him to give the project some importance because of its impact on tourism. He voted in favour because of the favourable report by the MTA.

Architect Mark Azzopardi said he voted against the project because he did not believe this sort of development was suitable for that area, although the MTA report was favourable.