The National Audit Office has been asked to investigate direct orders issued by the St Paul’s Bay local council since 2016, after preliminary evaluations showed that financial regulations might have been breached.

Responding to a Parliamentary Question by MP Byron Camilleri, Local Government Minister Owen Bonnici said that when allegations were first made, the finances were investigated by the Local Governance Board and they the Department of Local Government. The issue had also been referredd to the Attotnry General for his advice.

As a result, the matter has now been passed on to the NAO.

The council had agreed in May 2017 to approve direct orders to various contracors for contracts which had expired and were in the process of either being issued as new calls or were in the process of having bids adjudicated, according to the mayor, who noted that not all the related documentation had been received from the local council.

Read: St Paul's Bay mayor Graziella Galea resigns

There has been considerable upheaval in the council over the past onths, with the PN councillors Robert Piscopo and David Thake resigning, and PN mayor Graziella Galea stepping down on January 10.