Two property development companies today accused the Commissioner of Land of acting in bad faith when he sold them plots two months before the issuance of a scheme through which they would have paid a fraction of what they actually did.

In a civil case, Falsons Construction and Falgri, said they bought land in St Paul's Bay and subsequently realised that part of the land was being claimed as owned by the Joint Office (the government-church office which administers former Church property).

Civil proceedings were initiated but, in 2012, during the proceedings, the parties came to an agreement whereby plaintiffs bought the land in dispute for €446,000.

Two months later, a scheme was published whereby owners of land in the same road having the same problem could buy it at a reduced price.

They said that had they benefited from this scheme they would have paid only a fraction of what they paid.

They called on the court to award damages.

Lawyers David Camilleri and Joseph Gatt signed the application.