Gonzi confirms emails from Farrugia’s wife, ‘never discussed tenders’

The former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi has confirmed the existence of emails, published in MaltaToday, that show that he knew Cathy Farrugia – the wife of oil trader George Farrugia.

Farrugia was granted a presidential pardon in February 2013 shortly after MaltaToday published emails confirming a system of kickbacks in the procurement of oil for Enemalta from Trafigura and TOTSA.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, Gonzi confirmed emails published in MaltaToday that included an email from Cathy Farrugia of 2 July, 2008, in which she asks to set a meeting for her husband.

Cathy Farrugia writes to Lawrence Gonzi on 2 July 2008

Lawrence Gonzi replies on 3 July 2008

A meeting is set by Gonzi's secretary Leonard Callus with George Farrugia

“I answered on 3 July and asked for information about the matter. I received a reply from her that same day and the subject concerned a tender, and I instantly answered that on a point of principle I cannot have meetings on subjects that concern tenders and I insisted that everything had to be ‘on the record’ and that if there were any allegations of irregularities these had to be referred to the competent authorities,” Gonzi said.

Gonzi, currently testifying before the Public Accounts Committee on the fuel procurement scandal, had described knowing pardoned Farrugia’s wife Cathy as an employee of the Mizzi Group, where he also used to work, but did not know who her husband was.

The emails also indicate that Gonzi's secretary Leonard Callus had set a meeting between the PM and Farrugia, in 2009.

MaltaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan, who published the emails on Sunday, said that Gonzi had confirmed the existence of these emails.

“It proves that Gonzi was economical with the truth when he said he did not know Cathy Farrugia and her husband George Farrugia. The fact is that Cathy Farrugia served in Lawrence Gonzi’s secretarial team for over eight years, a fact he denied repeatedly. The email that was published in MaltaToday now confirmed as true by Dr Gonzi confirms the familiarity that existed between Cathy and George Farrugia with the former prime minister.”

Emails

The latest emails come at a time when the emails acquired by MaltaToday show the degree of familiarity that existed between Cathy Farrugia and Lawrence Gonzi.

The former prime minister, who advised for the issuance of the presidential pardon, has claimed he did not really know Cathy Farrugia. A former secretary who is believed to have assisted Gonzi at the Mizzi Organisation, Gonzi has claimed that if he knew her, it was “very much in the same way that [he] knew the 1,300 employees” of the firm where he was legal advisor before.

While Farrugia was part of the secretarial staff that served Gonzi for eight years, so far the familiarity between the two may have been illustrated in a photograph of Gonzi speaking to the Farrugias during an open day at the Safi Aviation Park.

But in one of the new emails now published by MaltaToday, Cathy Farrugia displays an unusual familiarity with Gonzi and refers to her husband as “George” in a way that indicates that Gonzi knew Farrugia well.

“It’s been a while since we met and we hope that you and your family are doing fine. We are ok and starting to enjoy the summer now that the kids are off to school,” she greets Gonzi in an email.

“George would like to have a private word with you at your earliest convenience. I know you are busy but won’t take long… Thank you and look forward to see you, Cathy.”

Gonzi replies a day later, on 3 July, 2008, from his official government email.

“Dear Cathy, thanks for your email. I can try to set up a meeting but this will prove to be complicated during July. Is there any particular subject he would like to bring to my attention even via email? Best wishes, Lawrence.”

Later in 2009, an email from the Auberge de Catille confirms that George Farrugia would in fact have a face-to-face meeting with Lawrence Gonzi on a matter related to privatization.

On another occasion, George Farrugia writes to Gonzi to complain about the bad service in a Maltese hotel to which Gonzi replies: “I will certainly see that someone follows up on this.”