Gatt has to explain "Aust" reference in scandal e-mails - Muscat
Gatt has to explain "Aust" reference in scandal e-mails - Muscat
Updated February 12, 9.30am
Joseph Muscat said this evening that while he could not pass judgement on the conditions attached to the presidential pardon given in the oil procurement scandal, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt needed to explain the reference to 'Aust' in the scandal e-mails revealed by The Sunday Times.
Speaking tonight in Kirkop, Dr Muscat said:
"The fact that a presidential pardon has been given means that someone has admitted wrongdoing and so this is no longer an allegation," Dr Muscat said.
However, he reiterated that on a political level the Prime Minister and Transport Minister Austin Gatt had a lot to explain about the correspondence revealed by The Sunday Times.
The correspondence, an exchange of emails between oil traders, includes reference to somebody with the initials "AG" and "Aust". In one email to then Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone, an oil trader asked how the meeting with the minister went.
Dr Muscat said he would not speculate who "AG" may be, but the reference to "Aust" required a clear explanation from Dr Gatt.
"The correspondence published in The Sunday Times makes you cringe," he insisted.
At the time the correspondence took place Dr Gatt was politically responsible for Enemalta. The minister has denied any wrongdoing or ever discussing Enemalta oil tenders with anyone. He has urged anyone with information to go immediately to the police.
Interviewed by TV presenters Simone Cini and Robert Musumeci, the Labour leader said the only yardstick of how important the pardon was to the criminal case being pursued by the police was the strength of the evidence the pardoned individual would give in court to help in the prosecution of other people.
He said a whistleblower act would have avoided all this because politicians, who may have an interest in the case that comes before them, will have no say in who gets a pardon.
AUSTIN GATT REPLIES
In a statement this morning, Dr Gatt said:
"I reiterate that I never, ever discussed the business of tenders for oil by Enemalta with George Farrugia or had any conversation with him that remotely touched on such subjects. The email referred to by Dr. Muscat does not say or imply otherwise."
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19 Comments
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Peter Simpson
Feb 13th, 13:31
Who is going to solve the mistery about the initials A.G.? GonziPN speaks as if this oil scandal does not concern them: not so the taxpayers who are flabergasted by the turnover of millions of euros involved in the kickbacks!
Pamela Hansen
Feb 13th, 11:29
Whistle blowing and turning crown's evidence are separate entities. The man who has been granted a pardon is not whistle blower but has turned crown's evidence to obtain a pardon.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 12th, 14:27
What more explanations are needed from Austin Gatt about the cryptic phrases in those emails in addition to his categorical denial that there were any related contacts between himself and George Farrugia? If any explanations are due, they should be forthcoming from the senders and receivers of the emails. That should be evident to anyone who is not intellectually impaired!
Terence Valentino
Feb 12th, 12:36
If one stops looking from the Blue glasses, and start thinking with his/her own logic, he/she will agree that us Maltese need a seirous explanation for these references.
After all, we paid higher bills, while the selected few were taking thousands of € in their pockets...
As simple as that.
pat muscat
Feb 12th, 09:02
We are in Europe economically but as for values, we lack behind. We can't move forward with one foot pulling forward and the other pulling in the opposite direction. All these doubts about political accountability are causing a great divide between citizens and institutions on one side, and lack of trust in politics on the other.
Victor Mallia
Feb 12th, 07:48
Dr.Gatt has to come out and clear this mess as quickly as possible but overall it is Dr.Gonzi's responsibility to ensure that the whole truth comes out.
Nicholas Schembri
Feb 12th, 07:16
Reading articles in the papers I starts to doubt:-
if the right power generation unit was bought
if the right fuel is used
if people are taking commission wrongly
if we are paying more for electricity
This, not from mismanagement, but by design. People who are having their power supply disconnected must seriously hope there is a God.
Meanwhile, we Maltese Joe public are owed an expanation.
Anthony Scicluna
Feb 12th, 09:14
Nicholas, what guarantees do you have that a change in government will result in a system where people don't take illegal commissions? Perhaps you are too young to 'know' the ways of the world.
Richard Caruana
Feb 12th, 06:56
Among all this smokescreen, can anyone, not just JosephMuscatPL, but anyone in the PL tell me where in their electoral programme can I find the projected power station and the reductions in tariffs please?
Not only has the idea vanished, but also no other alternative is mentioned.
Thomas Grima
Feb 12th, 15:08
Look again Mr Caruana.
You should find your answers on pages 50 to 55 of the PL Electoral Programme.
rodney bone
Feb 12th, 06:40
All this evidence on corruption is getting to me. I used to trust government and its institutions but how can I go on doing this? We certainly need to turn a new page. I think a new PL government can instil some trust again.
Roy Fava
Feb 12th, 06:26
OMERTA ASSOLUTA!....Gonzi owes us an explanation and fast!
charles flask
Feb 12th, 06:17
I read the emails presented in The Time yesterday! Yes we all can read and it was absolutely shocking to say the least. Watching that correspondence just precludes good people like me and you from voting the existing PN in March!
J Martinelli
Feb 11th, 23:45
How about Joseph explaining his emails to and from Sabrina when she was still in the employ at RTK?
Thomas Grima
Feb 12th, 07:30
Nahseb qed thallat il hass mal basal sur Martinelli.
Dawk l emails hargu kolla u kullhadd ta li spjegazzjonijiet tieghu u kullhadd wasal ghal konkluzjonijiet tieghu.
Ara fuq din hadd ma ta spjegazzjonijiet.
N. Aquilina
Feb 12th, 08:46
Bis serjeta sur Martinelli, ma nahsibx li f'dawk l emails kien hemm involuti ministri, chairmen and most importantly il flus u is sahha tal poplu, iddahhaqx u tippruvax tiddefendi l indefensibbli!
Jimmy Magro
Feb 11th, 22:03
well said
Wilfred Camilleri
Feb 11th, 21:56
Austin Gatt does not have to explain anything. Farrugia does! Anyone can write emails and drop names in them to impress or mislead. That doesn't make them true. If I were to write emails and make references to meetings with Muscat, does that mean Muscat met with me? Of course not. Muscat is trying to take political advantage of the situation.
Lawrence Zammit
Feb 12th, 09:09
Agree with you 100 %.
Please choose the reason of your report below: