The police are probing an alleged meeting between a businessman and a Privatisation Unit official as part of their investigations into bribery allegations linked to the super yacht facility privatisation, The Times has learnt.

The meeting is alleged to have taken place over lunch in a Paceville restaurant between a leading businessman involved with one of the bidding companies and a public official, who was a member of the Privatisation Unit board. The meeting is alleged to have taken place last year when the bidding process was still open. Investigators are expected to look into the call logs of mobile phone numbers that belonged to the two people and others involved in the process.

Over the past few days, the police have questioned a number of businessmen involved with the various companies that submitted bids for the super yacht facility. The police have also questioned the chief executive officer of the government's investment arm Mimcol, who also sits on the Privatisation Unit board.

The government's privatisation document outlining bidding conditions made it very clear that no prospective bidder could contact any member of the Privatisation Unit except the chairman and only to request information and seek clarification. The request for proposals made it clear bidders who breached such condition could be disqualified.

Although the super yacht bidding process was stopped, the allegation that such a meeting occurred has the potential of opening a can of worms on the other privatisation processes linked to Malta Shipyards because of the businessman's commercial interests.

The investigation started over a week ago after the Prime Minister referred to the Police Commissioner allegations that had reached his office last September.

The issue was fleetingly raised by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat in the form of a question during the close of the debate on the motion to transfer the Manoel Island yacht yard facility and the Cospicua ship repair facility to private owners.

In Parliament, Lawrence Gonzi said he only got to know about the allegations of bribery eight months after they were made to a high official at the Office of the Prime Minister.

The official had referred the allegations to Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, who sought clarifications from members of the Privatisation Unit.

Mr Fenech told Parliament he was satisfied by their denial and insisted he did not refer the matter to the police because it was "hearsay".