The Government last night made a recommendation to the President to grant a pardon to George Farrugia in return for evidence that could expose a ring involved in oil purchase bribes.

The decision was made in a Cabinet meeting that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi presided over on his return from the summit meeting in Brussels. He went to Castille straight from the airport.

Attorney General Peter Grech and Police Commissioner John Rizzo were seen walking into Castille and remained inside for the entire meeting, which took about an hour.

Mr Farrugia, 47, a businessman who used to form part of the John’s Garage Group, made his offer to turn State evidence at a meeting with Mr Rizzo earlier this month.

The request was then communicated to Justice Minister Chris Said who, in turn, brought it to the Cabinet’s attention.

It is normal practice that both the Attorney General and the police are consulted before a decision is made on whether to propose a presidential pardon or not.

The Constitution empowers the President to grant a pardon to anyone connected to or convicted of a crime. According to Constitutional law expert Ian Refalo such a pardon can either be free of conditions or it may demand, among other things, that the person pardoned would have to testify in court.

No details of the pardon were available last night but the Office of the Prime Minister had already declared the Government was prepared to grant a pardon “to those who are willing to testify under oath in court so the full truth is revealed”.

Mr Farrugia was among a number of people interviewed by the police after allegations emerged in the press about ‘commissions’ being paid in connection with Enemalta’s oil purchases.

Former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone and petrochemist Frank Sammut, who at one time also served as Mr Tabone’s consultant at Enemalta, were also questioned over the scandal.

The police are believed to have enough evidence to press charges against one or more suspects.