Oil trader’s lawyer approached police with offer to turn State’s evidence

Former police commissioner John Rizzo took a week to draft a presidential pardon granted to oil trader George Farrugia, so that he turns state's evidence on corruption charges against former Enemalta officials.

Rizzo told a court today in that he was tied down by the logistics of the 2013 electoral campaign during the last week of January and the beginning of February.

Taking the witness stand in the case against Alfred Mallia, formerly head of Enemalta's petroleum division, Rizzo said that it was his lawyer Franco Debono who approached police inspector Angelo Gafà to suggest that his client George Farrugia turn state's evidence in return for a pardon.

Rizzo then informed the prime minister's head of secretariat.

"It took me a week to draft the pardon," Rizzo said, saying he could not be present throughout the interrogations related to the oil scandal, which had been broken by MaltaToday, at the same time that he was managing preparations for the electoral campaign.

Some time before the 10 February, the pardon was signed by the President of the Republic, leading to Farrugia admitting his involvement in the oil scandal.

The police interrogated Alfred Mallia, whom Rizzo described as appearing "pale and sick" throughout a confrontation with Farrugia. "I believe Mallia admitted to his involvement after or before the confrontation, but I stand to be corrected."