Updated 1.50 pm with government reaction

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has asked the Auditor General to investigate the controversial transfer of land at St George's Bay to the db Group.

In his letter, Dr Busuttil raised a number of questions related to the transfer of the land currently hosting the Institute of Tourism Studies. 

He asked how a prime site was transferred for just €15 million when it was estimated to be worth much more. The PN leader also urged the Attorney General to check why such a contract was not taken to Parliament for approval. 

Dr Busuttil also asked why the request for proposal format was completely different to the one normally used. 

During the launch of the project, the so-called City Centre was promoted as "the most sophisticated place to go in Malta.

Meanwhile, the government said it welcomed the call for the Attorney General to scrutinise the ITS deal.

"The process was transparent from the beginning, and an international auditing company was roped in to give a value to the site. This process is unprecedented, it established new standards on ways to value government land," it said.