Updated 10.50 am - Former land commissioner Joe Bugeja has revealed that one of the reasons he stepped down last September was because of the controversial deal reached between the government and the Café Premier owners.

He admitted in comments to Times of Malta that his department had never been consulted on the deal reached directly between the Prime Minister and the Café Premier owners and he had only signed the contract because he was told to do so.

In his resignation letter, Dr Bugeja said he could “no longer work serenely” due to the lack of resources and communication within the government.

Asked earlier this week whether Dr Bugeja’s resignation was connected with the Café Premier controversy, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat dismissed the issue.

However, when asked  Dr Bugeja said: “It was one of the reasons, together with others.” At the same time of this controversy, the Labour government had also decided the Land Department would drop a court case against the Labour Party over Australia Hall and other land in Pembroke. Later, the party sold the property to settle long overdue debts with third parties. 

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GOVERNMENT REPLIES

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in the afternoon that he had never met the former Director of Lands, he had not forced him to do anything, and he had never flagged the issue.

Earlier, a government spokesman said it was surprised by Mr Bugeja's comments.

"Mr Bugeja did not flag any particular case as a reason for his departure neither in his exit interview with the Principal Permanent Secretary nor in his letter of resignation which was tabled in Parliament.

"He also never mentioned the Premier issue neither to the then Parliamentary Secretary, Michael Farrugia nor his successor, Michael Falzon.

"As a regulator, it would have been his duty to flag specific reservations had he had them. Furthermore, he never met or sought a meeting with the Prime Minister on this or any other case."

The spokesman also pointed out that Mr Bugeja handed in his resignation nine months after he signed the Cafe Premier contract.

"The government would not have been surprised had Mr Bugeja decided to resign in the wake of the Fekruna scandal and other dossiers currently under scrutiny, and which happened under his watch during the previous administration," he said.

PN REACTION

The PN said the prime minister had launched a direct attack on the former Commissioner of Lands for having said the truth.

Freedom of expression was sacred and it was unacceptable that the prime minister attacked whoever said what he felt. 

It was clear that Dr Muscat had no way to defend his direct involvement in the Cafe' Premier controversy, and instead of admitting his mistake, he was launching an attack to cover his scandalous behaviour. 

The time had come for Dr Muscat to shoulder his political responsibility, the PN said.