Prime Minister Joseph Muscat last night accused the Opposition of “flogging” the government over the case involving the expropriation of a building in Old Mint Street, Valletta.

But he said he fully intended to see all questions answered, including why a historical building had been designated as a site that could be built upon.

The Opposition earlier yesterday described as nothing more than a “farce” an investigation into the affair to be carried out by the Internal Audit and Investigations Department (IAID).

Answering a number of questions from Opposition MPs, Dr Muscat said in Parliament that he hoped the Opposition was not seeking to put spokes in the wheels of the investigation being done by the IAID.

This probe was over and above the one undertaken by the Auditor General.

There will be no cover-up

He described as “very pertinent” a question by Opposition deputy leader Mario de Marco as to whether it was normal for only an undivided share of a building to be expropriated, and said he was looking forward to answers to such questions from either or both investigations.

The Prime Minister said the Internal Audit and Financial Investigations Act, agreed upon unanimously by both sides in 2003, laid down impartiality as a prerequisite, so he could not understand the Opposition’s reluctance to hold this further investigation.

There would be no cover-up by any part of the government.

Dr de Marco said the Prime Minister was misinterpreting the Opposition. It had no qualms about any further investigation as long as the Auditor General was not hindered in his probe.