Government asks NAO to extend Old Mint inquiry into previous expropriations

The government will ask the Auditor General to extend his investigation into the Old Mint expropriation controversy to include expropriations carried out by previous Nationalist administrations.

“The government is open to investigations from both the Auditor General and the Internal Audit Investigations Department in the Old Mint expropriation,” Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said ahead of a Public Accounts Committee meeting.  “However, for the sake of good governance, value for money, transparency, accountability, and value for money, his investigations should include expropriations under the previous administration, including that of Fekruna Bay, land in Spinola, the former HSBC building in Republic Street, and of a former factory in Qormi.”

However, Opposition MP Tonio Fenech Fenech said that the Auditor General should investigate the Opposition and the government’s requests separately. Bonnici then asked whether the investigations could be published at the same time.

De Marco slammed the request as “unacceptable” as the PN had submitted their request two weeks ago and is already being investigated.

“We have no problem with the government requesting separate investigations, but we don’t want to tie the Auditor General down as to when he should publish his report,” he said.