[WATCH] Gatt lauds MaltaToday for breaking Trafigura-Enemalta story

Transport minister Austin Gatt lauded MaltaToday's journalistic work today, giving due credit to this newspaper for breaking the story that published invoices from oil firm Trafigura to a former MOBC and Enemalta consultant, for the supply of oil to the state utility.

"This was serious journalism," he said. "I gave a statement to the police on 29 January, but the Commissioner of Police has asked me to keep that statement confidential... but I cannot allow the malicious insinuations of One TV, l-orizzont and Labour's to continue," Gatt said.

As it turned out, it was the extensive two-hour question and answer session that proved to be more revealing.

Firstly the denials: Gatt has categorically denied speaking about oil tenders with George Farrugia, the Total and Trafigura agent. But he will keep up his libel suit against MaltaToday for suggesting that Farrugia's emails, where the trader talks about meeting the minister [in 2004 he was energy minister] are in relation to oil contracts.

"I am confident that justice will prevail," he said, using Eddie Fenech Adami's battlecry (Is-sewwa jirbah zgur).

Then came new facts. Gatt has a Swiss bank account, as he confirmed to a Labour media representative. "It was my father's, he opened it in 1973, and then I inherited it from my mother, and it was intended as a fund for my children."

Apparently, this bank account has so far not been declared in his parliamentary register of interests. But its Swiss provenance must have been manna to Labour media journalists eager to make the geographical connection with the Swiss banks accounts that both Farrugia and former MOBC chief Frank Sammut had.

Indeed Gatt had no problem in telling journalists he had "never made a cent" out of any illegal activity.

Although he denied discussing oil contracts with Farrugia, Gatt did not exclude having held courtesy meetings with representatives from Total and Trafigura, whom Farrugia represented locally.

Gatt was also present for the Cabinet meeting last Friday that discussed granting the pardon to George Farrugia to turn State's witness, but denied that this was a conflict of interest for him, having been himself questioned by the police on the Trafigura allegations.

"Commissioner John Rizzo and Attorney General Peter Grech were present for the meeting. If they were embarrassed by my presence they would have told the prime minister not to have me present. Nobody has any doubt on their integrity."

A candid Gatt explained to the press why he had been at the centre of so much controversy in the past five years, namely at Transport Malta and Enemalta, the Delimara extension and now the oil contracts.

"Firstly, I have to say there are no accusations against anyone... I am not the subject of any accusation. Otherwise these insinuations would be prejudicing the work of the police...

"Why was I in the midst of these episodes? I guess I was the minister who did the dirty work, took on the burden of the problems that other ministers would rather have had me take."

Gatt also said that he did not see any reason to resign, conceding that even a symbolic resignation two weeks before a general election which he is not even contesting.

"I believe there is political responsibility to be taken on two aspects: whether one does a criminal act or unethical action, and secondly if something is done by omission, or through lack of due diligence."

Gatt defended the due diligence that the government had undertaken in the procurement of oil by Enemalta. "It was all there, on paper... I guess it crumbled. But there was oversight," he said, distancing himself from the fact that MOBC chief executive Frank Sammut had allegedly taken kickbacks from Trafigura.

He also defended his choice of Tancred Tabone, the former Enemalta chairman who took on Sammut as his consultant in 2003-2004 when his role as CEO was terminated. Even Tabone has been questioned by police.

"We appointed a successful businessman, who had been Water Services Corporation chairman for two years, and twice president of the Chamber of Commerce... when Labour minister Gavin Gulia appointed Ray Pace and Patrick Vella as judges, did he have to leave politics when they were charged with corruption?

"I could take responsibility, and resign, symbolically. But for what reason, with two weeks left to the election? I honestly don't know whether I should resign... maybe it's debatable."

Gatt also denied having received any information related to any conflicts of interest that either Sammut or Tabone might have had during their time at Enemalta.

"To me the fact that Sammut was planning to move to Island Bunker Oils [a bunkering company of which Tabone became a shareholder of in 2008, three years after stepping down from Enemalta chairman], was not a conflict of interest.

"When the allegations about Sammut were made in parliament by Labour MP Leo Brincat, I said that the information should be forwarded to the Ombudsman and the Permanent Commission Against Corruption."