Transport minister sues MaltaToday for libel

Transport Minister Austin Gatt has filed alibel suit against MaltaToday, after yesterday denying having met businessman George Farrugia over any alleged contracts for the procurement of fuel consignments to state utility Enemalta.

MaltaToday on Sunday published excerpts from emails showing Farrugia in regular contact with Enemalta officials and the minister and other oil companies, in a bid on his part to ensure the lucrative sale of oil to Enemalta.

Gatt has categorically denied meeting Farrugia to discuss Enemalta's oil procurement. "I categorically and without any reservations, absolutely deny that anything of the sort ever happened or that any conversations I ever had with anyone at all - let alone George Farrugia - ever even remotely touched on the subject."

In a reaction, MaltaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan said the emails MaltaToday had in its possession showed that George Farrugia had met with minister Austin Gatt, but did not in any way infer that Gatt was aware of or involved in any illicit deals.

"MaltaToday's report does not suggest that the minister was involved in any illicit behaviour, but the fact remains that George Farrugia lobbied with both Enemalta and politicians. The fact that MaltaToday uncovered this lobby and its vested interests should be applauded and not castigated. Until now we have been extremely careful in our choice of words and the presentation of documentation, but it is not up to us to investigate and do the work of the police."

Email correspondence, bank transfers and online chats revealed by MaltaToday show how businessman George Farrugia played a pivotal role in Enemalta's oil procurement decisions, while oil commodities companies Total and Trafigura worked closely with Enemalta's top officials, the former MOBC chief Frank Sammut and Farrugia himself.

The private correspondence could point to the reasons for Enemalta's long business commitment with Total and Trafigura, two of its major suppliers.

Invoices from Trafigura, similar to Frank Sammut's kickback invoice published last week in MaltaToday, show how businessman George Farrugia received commissions noted down as a 'consultancy' for specific sales of oil to Enemalta from Trafigura. The fees were deposited in Farrugia's Swiss bank account in Banque Privée Edmond de Rotschild in Geneva.