Maltese face land probe in Sicily

A warrant for the seizure was ordered by a Magistrate in Syracuse and access to a number of land portions in Noto’s Busulmone area was officially barred yesterday by the Guardia di Finanza pending investigations over alleged “abuse of title.”

The investigations are focused on a Maltese accountant, identified as 46 year-old Mario Spiteri from Mosta and his 56 year-old business partner Giovan Battista Palma, who both operate a company called SicilyFarmhouses Ltd and San Gwann resident Andrei Imbroll of LandOverseas Fund Plc.

According to the Italian magistrates, the land and existing houses was meant to be developed into a residential complex named ‘Borgo Lucia’ comprising 27 two-storey villas, however according to Italian law, the land could only be bought, sold and developed by licensed farmers and not by realtors.

Contacted yesterday, Mario Spiteri said that he was unaware of the investigation, however he explained that the land in question was bought from the heirs of a deceased Maltese owner and a consortium of Maltese buyers were subsequently faced with a series of contestations from a neighbouring Englishman.

The land has meanwhile been transferred under the custody of the mayor of Noto.