Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando this afternoon said he was satisfied that a court had acquitted two people charged in connection with the Mistra case.

In a statement, he said that the decision proved that he was correct in what he had said about the case before the election and since then.

Philip Azzopardi, a former chairman of a Mepa Development Control Commission and Anthony Mifsud, one of its former members, this morning were found not guilty of trading in influence in the Mistra development case.

The case revolved around the outline permit which had been issued for the building of an open air disco on land belonging to Dr Pullicino Orlando.

"This is a case where I had to suffer accusations which are today being shown to have been false," Dr Pullicino Orlando said.

Those people who had tried to twist facts and manipulate information now had a clear declaration by the courts, he said.

The case had confirmed the integrity and honesty of the accused and cleared them of any undue influence.

"My regret is that these two people and their families had to go through all this needlessly because of the false allegations that were made."

Dr Pullicino Orlando said the people could now better understand why he had had no problem in facing up to those who accused him of corruption just before the general election.

This decision filled him with courage to continue to work for his constituents within the Nationalist party, which was the ultimate target of the attacks made on him before the general election, Dr Pullicino Orlando said.

PN STATEMENT

Earlier, the Nationalist Party this afternoon hailed a court decision.

The party recalled that this case was raised by the Labour Party, which had revealed it for major impact right on the eve of the general election. At the time the PL had attacked Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who had not shirked from facing then Labour leader Alfred Sant, although the latter had run away from a public debate. The Nationalist MP had also himself called on the Commissioner of Police to investigate the PL allegations.

The court had now decided that two of the persons taken to court were innocent.

Today's decision, the PN said, showed that the judicial process should be allowed to function so that truth, rather than manipulation, would prevail.

MEPA REACTION

The Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) said it had noted the court's decision with satisfaction.

"The Authority has full trust in the Maltese jurisdiction," Mepa said.

See also

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091028/local/two-acquitted-in-connection-with-mistra-case