Gonzi says presidential pardon is step forward in oil scandal investigations

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi says presidential pardon granted by Cabinet to George Farrugia will move case forward.

9 February 2013, 12:00am
by Jacob Borg

2 min read

The necessary tools were being utilized to move the oil scandal investigations forward, the prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Speaking in Ghajn Dwieli this morning, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi refused to comment further on the Presidential Pardon approved by the Cabinet yesterday evening for a witness in the alleged award of commissions by commodities firm Trafigura for the sale of oil to Enemalta, revealed by MaltaToday.

"I have no comments to make. We have to ensure that the Police carry out their investigations in peace," Gonzi said.

Gonzi was speaking to the press after presiding over the signing of an agreement between the Kunsill Malti għall-Isports and The Malta Rugby Football Union.

Gonzi convened an urgent Cabinet meeting yesterday at 10pm, which approved a presidential pardon for businessman George Farrugia.

In comments to the press after the urgent Cabinet meeting on Friday, Gonzi said the meeting was convened to discuss a draft for a presidential pardon for a witness in the Enemalta oil scandal, who will turn State's witness and shed light on the allegations of kickbacks to a former Enemalta and MOBC consultant.

"This pardon will be subject to the condition that the whistleblower tells a court of law nothing but the truth... we are discussing the pardon now to see whether it will be forwarded to the President."

At 11:10pm Police Commissioner John Rizzo was seen leaving Castille, but did not give any comments to the press. Attorney General Peter Grech was also present for the meeting.

George Farrugia, the local agent for commodities firm Trafigura, which is alleged to have paid 'commissions' to a former MOBC chief executive for the supply of oil to state utility Enemalta, has asked for a presidential pardon in a bid to turn State's witness and testify in a court of law on the allegations first reported by MaltaToday.

Former Enemalta consultant and MOBC chief executive Frank Sammut is believed to have been the recipient of kickbacks from Trafigura for the supply of oil to Enemalta, back in 2004.

Former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone, who appointed Sammut as a consultant after his role as CEO of the MOBC was terminated, has also been called in for questioning by the police on the same investigation. Tabone handed in his resignation as president of the Chamber of Commerce earlier on Friday.

Tabone is a director and shareholder in Island Bunker Oils Ltd, a company that took over storage capacity from the MOBC and is connected to investigations being conducted by the police.

More from Jacob Borg

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I hope not all University lecturers are as blinkered as some. It would be a shame if it were the case, as they would be diffusing half truths even at lectures. It seems there is a lot to lose, that might not have been acquired in bona fide, hence this great worry of Labour being elected.

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I endorse what Ecarots just emailed. I have no trust whatsover of Gonzi and his cabinet. I hope that the President will not sign the pardon as I fear it will end like the case of Zeppi l-Hafi. Why this haste now, on the eve of the election. This scandal was uncovered by Malta today not by the government of the day. Therefore it is not up to the cabinet to approve the presidential pardon. The police (hopefully) with great duty and good conscience should proceed and unveil this malicious scandal.

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A Presidential pardon is not necessary.....this Farrugia chap will be coached minutely and the big fish including him will get scott free as in the case of Zeppi l-Hafi. This case is being handled with urgency on the eve of an election and hence not worth the bother. If the police had already stated that they had enough evidence to proceed why is a presidential pardon necessary???the mind boggles. GonziPN stated that there was no urgency to re-convene Parliament to pass the law on the Whistleblower Act so why all this haste for the case to be heard by giving G. Farrugia a presidential pardon?????

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Another sham! This pardon will allow the big fish to get away. I think the President should refuse this on the grounds that an election is less than a month away and both parties agree that there should be a whistle blowers act. That would be more transparent and allow the proper course of justice.

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@ Antoine Vella What does the PL have to do with it when all the people involved in this mega scandal are all fanatic PN supporters? The Maltese had one of the best laws in all EU until GonziPN decided to take us back to the Stone Age and use Heavy Fuel Oil. At least, PL has promised that we will use cleaner energy.

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Antoine VElla. Are you serious ? Do you really think then, that this scandal which has happened under the PN in which PN supporters are involved, is good news to GonziPn ???

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I believe an arrangement was made so at least some but not all damning information is released, hence all big fish will escape the net; and Farrugia also escapes scot free. I truly wish I were more gullible for my own sake! We obviously need the WB Act.

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This doesn't sound like good news for the PL.

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The problem is this- how can you proove that what someone says is the whole truth? Who can guarantee this? Our country has a poor record re. presidential pardons.

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This presidential pardon only proves how much Dr Gonzi should have enacted the Whistle Blower Act in the last five years or so. Why is Dr Gonzi so hesitant to enact this law, what is he hiding if anything? To the other two commentators I say, this is a very well thought of presidential pardon and only God knows what goes on behind closed doors, but I wouldn't be the least surprised if a cover up is in place. We will never know. What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. If only walls can talk?

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Was there agreement to name all involved, or was there agreement to do something else? Personally, I do not trust the cabinet with twopence, let alone a decision of this magnitude, especially when the Police were already claiming triumphantly, that they had enough evidence to proceed. OR are we going to have it all quickly settled, before Labour is re-elected, and the prescription and the edict that one cannot be charged twice with the same offence kicks in? Would all those commissions siphoned from the Maltese taxpayers be refunded to the Maltese taxpayers even if they have been exchanged for bank accounts, jewellery, property, repayment of outstanding loans etc etc? I definitely smell a rat being cooked in thick black smoke!!!!!!

anna calleja •

Now listen here George (Farrugia). Your crime has come out in the open; to eliminate the possibility of you going to jail, we will use our contact to arrange a pardon for you, but on condition, AS UNDERSTOOD ALL ALONG, that you limit your finger pointing. DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH THE UNTOUCHABLES; UNDERSTOOD? You can go and play now.

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NISPERA LI MA IKUNX HEMM XI FTEHIM SA FEJN GHANDU JIKXEF, U LILL MIN

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Will Farrugia have to refund all the money he made ? Will this pardon ends like the Zeppi l-Hafi one, when the whole truth was not told by him despite 3 Presidential Pardons ??