The db Group has urged Opposition MP Simon Busuttil to take any evidence of wrongdoing in the ITS land transfer deal to a magistrate for investigation.
In a statement, the group said it welcomed any type of national investigation into the transfer of the ITS site to the group as part of its City Centre project.
The group referred to a statement by former Opposition leader Simon Busuttil in Parliament that the transfer of the land needed to be investigated.
“We categorically deny that we are aware of, let alone being party to, any wrong-doing. In fact, for the first time in Maltese history, in our case the market value of the land was set by an auditing firm of global stature, namely Deloitte, a price that the latter’s partner certified under oath as ‘fair’ in open court.”
The group invited Dr Busuttil to pass on to a prospective inquiring magistrate or the police any information he might have.
“From the start, the db Group has welcomed the scrutiny of the ITS land transfer by both local as well as European institutions. In fact, our group had publicly embraced, and still does, the review of the transfer by the National Audit Office.
“Equally, we warmly welcomed the EU Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager’s confirmation that the Request For Proposals procedure followed for the land transfer was in conformity with EU rules.”
Everyone knows that the public land at ITS was given to db Group on the cheap. Which is why I asked for an NAO investigation almost 2 YEARS AGO. The fact that this project fell under @KonradMizzi‘s responsibility makes it even more suspect. https://t.co/Xxogu1LkTT
— Simon Busuttil (@SimonBusuttil) November 21, 2018
It said that a few weeks ago, it went even further.
“We invited all politicians and journalists to look into the contract in question, again pledging our full cooperation. So far, no one has taken up our invitation, including Dr Busuttil.”
The db Group City Centre project, which also includes a 17-storey hotel at the former Institute of Tourism Studies site, has proved the most controversial.
More than 4,000 objections were submitted to the Planning Authority but the €300 million mega-development was nevertheless given the green light by the at a hearing on September 20.
Preliminary works on the site were halted on Tuesday by a review tribunal until an appeal against the project filed by NGOs and local councils is concluded.