Owen Bonnici presents fresh evidence to show Jason Azzopardi’s interference in Lowenbrau deal

Albert Mamo, the man who served as Commissioner for lands when the Lowenbrau case took place, had testified that the contract was signed without his knowledge.

Minister Owen Bonnici has called a press conference to reveal ‘fresh evidence’ on the Lowenbrau land case which has been the source of political football between Dr Bonnici and Jason Azzopardi for the last couple of weeks.

The press was presented with a court testimony of Mr Mamo saying that the contract, which saw the land being transferred from government to Marsovin Ltd, was approved by the Director General, a certain Alfred Bezzina.

When replying to questions by lawyers, Mr Mamo said that Mr Bezzina knew nothing of the case and could not distinguish between rent and perpetual emphyteusis.

Dr Bonnici said the court than asked when he got to know about the contract to which Mr Mamo said ‘I knew about it afterword’s, months later’.

“When I realised, I was going mad. I thought I would end up in prison”, Mr Mamo had said.

Mamo also said that the contract stipulated that the land was to be used for a factory, and that once he realised what had happened, he spoke to the Director General and AG. When asked by lawyer, he said he did not know on what criteria were the conditions changed.

The Labour Party is insisting that there are Jason Azzopardi’s finger prints all over the case. Dr Bonnici said commissioner for lands was convinced contract was illegal so much so he feared he would face jail time.

In an interview with The Malta Independent, Jason Azzopardi said that in 2011, a panicked Mr Mamo had informed him of the illegal 2009 deal, which was carried out behind their backs. Dr Azzopardi subsequently ordered that legal action be taken against Vassallo Group, which was, by then, the owner of the Qormi land.

Nothing new from Owen Bonnici - PN

In a reaction, the Nationalist Party said that Owen Bonnici revealed nothing new during the press conference.

“The evidence brought forward has been public for more than three years,” the PN said, adding that and Jason Azzopardi has been replying to questions related to this testimony for the past weeks.

“Minister Owen Bonnici should start acting as a Justice Minister and not waste time on lies and inventions,” the party said.