The Nationalist Party has demanded answers from the government about a permit for an outside development zone building in Siġġiewi issued to a relative of a consultant to the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture.

Works on the 280 square metre villa on fertile agricultural land began on Monday, a day after The Sunday Times of Malta reported that the case was the subject of a government investigation.

Environment shadow minister Ryan Callus.

Addressing a press conference at the site in Siġġiewi yesterday, environment shadow minister Ryan Callus said the government’s silence on the matter, 48 hours later, sent the message that the law was not the same for all.

The planning authority issued a permit for the development in the name of Roderick Farrugia – the son-in-law of Albert (Bertu) Pace, who is a consultant to Agriculture Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes and a former Labour MP.

The basis of the permit hinges on a document bearing the agriculture department’s letterhead and signed by Stephen Galea, who described himself as a vet support officer who said he had carried out inspections at the farm.

However, there is no official record that Mr Galea was ever employed as a vet support officer.

Mr Callus said yesterday the government was deflecting attention by saying an investigation was under way – when the only questions to be answered were whether Mr Galea was ever employed in the role he claimed and whether he had carried out any tests at the farm.

“One has to ask whether the Prime Minister is protecting the applicant simply because he is so close to the government,” he said.

Mr Callus called for Mepa to immediately stop works on the site until the allegations were tackled, as well as for the Ombudsman’s office and the police to carry out their own investigations.

PN candidate Charlot Cassar added that the case was evidence of how the government was prepared to bend the laws to benefit those with influence. “The PM must understand that the authorities are not there to serve his inner circle but for the public good,” he said.

In a statement later in the day, the government reiterated that the matter was under investigation and that rather than remaining silent, it was “investigating and acting”.