The shadow minister for justice insisted today that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon need to shoulder political responsibility for the Old Mint Street expropriation scandal.

Jason Azzopardi told a press conference that the decision to expropriate part ownership of the property was vitiated from beginning to end and stemmed from political decisions.

The Prime Minister, as the minister responsible for lands, and Dr Falzon, a parliamentary secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister, needed to assume responsibility and not try to blame government architects.

Matters were premeditated and one could not but suspect corruption, Dr Azzopardi said.

Mark Gaffarena, he observed, had separately bought two quarters of the property and those two were then expropriated, the second after a few weeks and at a considerably higher price than the purchase price. 

Furthermore officials from the Lands Department had been seen with Mr Gafferena. Properties handed to Mr Gaffarena as part of the payment had been picked out purposely for him.

Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon signed the expropriation request.

Ryan Callus (PN) observed that Dr Falzon originally said he was not involved.

The press conference was also attended by the shadow minister for the environment Marthese Portelli.