Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has asked the auditor of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Joe Falzon, to investigate an application for the development of a discotheque in Mistra Valley, following corruption claims made by Labour Leader Alfred Sant against Nationalist candidate Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando over the weekend.

Dr Gonzi asked Mr Falzon to look into the matter in terms of the Development Planning Act.

Dr Sant has alleged that an outline permit was originally granted for a disco that could take 4,000 patrons but the permit was then extended to 8,000.

The proposed night club is in an outside development zone and the land in question belongs to Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando but was rented to a third party.

Dr Pullicino Orlando has denied knowledge of the project or knowing the applicant and has instructed the latter to withdraw any application for development on his property.

Yesterday, he filed a libel suit against Dr Sant over the corruption claim.

Speaking to the media outside the law courts just before filing the suit, he condemned the "cowardly manner" in which Dr Sant made the allegations about him.

In his brief address to the press, which occurred before the incident at PBS, Dr Pullicino Orlando explained how, after being tipped off by sources within the MLP that Dr Sant would be targeting him during his campaign, he made it a point to be present during MLP meetings to defend himself.

But Dr Sant managed to dodge him and make the allegations about the Mistra land in his absence.

Dr Pullicino Orlando insisted that he would keep turning up at MLP activities because he wanted Dr Sant to make these allegations face to face. He was willing to confront Dr Sant in a public debate "because I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of," he said.

Meanwhile, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) has welcomed Mr Pullicino Orlando's request to Mepa to block further processing of applications by third parties on his land, as well as the Prime Minister's instruction to the Mepa auditor.