An investigation into possible abuse of office and conflict of interest by a Dutch mayor involving real estate in a Bulgarian holiday resort has been put on hold, Dutch media reported.

Gerd Leers, mayor of the Dutch town of Maastricht, had allegedly used his position in a conflict with a Bulgarian construction company from which Leers had bought a villa in 2006.

According to Dutch media, one of the shareholders in the Bulgarian company was Nick Nollens, a top official in Leers' municipality.

The investigation had been started after the affair went public in October 2009, but investigators had been unable to establish Nollens' role in the affair as Nollens had been on sick leave.

Despite the commission not being able to interview Nollens, the municipality of Maastricht had previously said the results would be announced before Christmas. On December 5, the council announced it had been decided to postpone completing the investigation awaiting Nollens' recovery.

In early December, Nollens had sued the Maastricht municipality and its mayor, demanding the investigation into possible abuse by the mayor be stopped. According to Nollens, the investigation had been started without a valid reason and its only aim was to smear his reputation, clearing the reputation of Leers in the process.

The hearing in this court case, due to take place on December 7, has been postponed following the decision by Maastricht council to postpone completion of the investigation.

Paul Brouwers, Nollens' lawyer, demanded that the investigation was shut down, not just postponed, Dutch daily NRC said. "My client will not collaborate with an investigation that hurts his personal life. The only reason this investigation was ever started was so the mayor could clear his name," Brouwers was quoted by NRC as saying.

According to Brouwers, the investigation could only be completed if Nollens co-operated with the authorities.