Terms for the presidential pardon asked for by the Maltese agent at the centre of the oil bribery case that hit Enemalta have not been agreed and negotiations are ongoing.

The Sunday Times revealed oil agent George Farrugia, formerly of John’s Garage, had requested to be granted a presidential pardon in return for evidence against a ring thought to be implicated in the case.

Since then there have been conflicting reports about the pardon, but The Times is informed it is still under negotiation and the terms have not yet been agreed.

Police are keen on the added information that Mr Farrugia could bring but already have ample evidence to secure convictions, sources said. The negotiations are between the Attorney General’s office, police and defence lawyer Franco Debono, for Mr Farrugia.

Court action is being taken by investigators against key suspects and several companies related to the probe. This action cannot be reported on under the terms of the Money Laundering Act.

The investigation is following two avenues. One concerns the bribes allegedly taken by petrochemist Frank Sammut from Dutch oil giant Trafigura on consignments destined for Enemalta.

The second centres on the corporation’s former oil bunkering subsidiary (MOBC) and a firm that later took a significant share of its business, Island Bunkering Oil Ltd.

Three shareholders have been interrogated: Cassar Ship repair managing director Anthony Cassar, Francis Portelli, of Virtu Ferries, and former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone. Mr Sammut also worked as a consultant for the firm.