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Three PL candidates to file criminal complaint against Austin Gatt

Three PL candidates to file criminal complaint against Austin Gatt. Video: Chris Sant Fournier

Labour MP Evarist Bartolo and candidates Manuel Mallia and David Farrugia Sacco will be filing a complaint to the police against Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt, for his claim of a frame up by the Labour Party this afternoon.

They will be requesting the police to proceed with urgency “as we have been slandered,” they told a news conference this afternoon.

Their press conference was held shortly after Dr Gatt announced he had compiled a technical report which he intended to file with the police.

The report is in connection with the publication of an email leaked this week as part of the unfolding oil scandal story, which he said, was likely part of a frame up in his respect by the Labour Party.

The minister also said he had come across information that showed that at least three Labour candidates were somehow connected with this matter. He mentioned Mr Bartolo, Dr Mallia and Dr Farrugia Sacco.

Dr Farrugia Sacco that that the only interpretation that could be given to the minister’s statement was that they were behind the frame up.

Mr Bartolo, likened Dr Gatt to Inspector Jacques Clouseau of Pink Panther fame for playing detective.

He referred to the minister’s claim that The Times had picked up the email from his Facebook page. Did the minister not realise that he was one of thousands of people who had been tagged in that email, he asked

Mr Bartolo said that Minister Gatt was desperate and had his back to the wall so he was trying to deviate the attention from him and pass his blame on to others.

“We are treating the biggest scandal in our political history which it is clear that the minister wants to hide.”

He asked if people who had benefitted from this scandal were also found in the list JS, which, he said, was a compilation of the names of people who financed the PN from the money they made out of commissions.

He asked why, when there was the fuel procurement advisory committee, had the chairman, who wanted to do things the right way, been dismissed.

Mr Bartolo asked the Prime Minister if, even before the 2008 election, he had been informed that there was rampant corruption in oil procurement, if there were those who wanted to give him documents and if he had gone to the police with any information.

He asked if, in the investigations being carried out now, had there been anyone who was saying that the signature on the documents they were shown was not their own.

Dr Mallia said that Dr Gatt was panicking and he did not expect a minister with so much experience to speak in the way he did without any basis. The minister, he said, also made a number of suppositions in his attempt to research from where the e-mails originated.

Referring to the fact that he was the Farrugias lawyer, Dr Mallia said “so what”.

The first time he saw the emails, he said, was on MaltaToday.

But Dr Gatt was trying to spin a strategy to alienate the people and create a situation to deviate attention.

He said that he had never seen Mr Farrugia’s computer and was never ever part of the audit investigation team.

It was true that he had represented the Farrugias for a meeting in Geneva but this a meeting of a commercial and contractual nature and not one to discuss commissions or bribes.

Dr Farrugia Sacco also said that the first time he saw the emails was on MaltaToday.

He said that he entered politics to give a contribution and found myself being attacked for something he was absolutely not involved in.

It was true that he had represented the Farrugia brothers in a case related to siphoning of funds but this had nothing to do with the matter.

 

 

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R. Stivala

Feb 18th, 09:49

With all due respect... Speak for yourself. I don't think its the Maltese people who's Stupid but the Present "Government".

If you think your stupid please dont compare the rest of us to you because I know what is needed for a better life (Change of direction, government, power).

Thanks.

Wally Vella-Zarb

Feb 17th, 12:02

Your question should be:

"WHO has the most to LOSE?"

Victor Laiviera

Feb 17th, 14:30

No 3 is false. The emails were NOT on the facebook page of Evarist Bartolo, he was simply tagged (if you don't know what that means, get somebody to explain).

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 17th, 10:54

Responsibility and accountability were shown immediately when the allegation of scandal was referred to the police and when a presidential pardon was granted to a presumed accomplice as soon as requested by the police and the attorney general. The law must now be allowed to take its course without is findings being anticipated by a Labour movement kangaroo court.

Tony Mangion

Feb 17th, 11:31

@Dr Francis, It has been said that this scandal has been going on since 2010. Where was Dr Gatt since that time and was there the need for the Malta to-day and the Times to uncover this scandal and start the ball rolling?.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 17th, 13:23

@TonyMangion.

"What has been said" is immaterial. What is relevant is the evidence heard in a court of law. Your speculation about what may have been said is a perfect illustration of the despicable kangaroo style corrupting substitute for the legitimate due process at law.

Michael Magri

Feb 17th, 13:47

Dr Saliba.. Your argument does not hold at all, because it has been known that this oil scandal has been going on for quite some years back.. So Where were Ministers Gatt, Fenech and Prime Minister Gonzi...!!??

Silence, sometimes can be the cause of VERY loud noises you know..!! And that`s what`s happening NOW...!

M Borg

Feb 17th, 11:07

This has nothing to do with tax evasion.

He did not declare it in his assets list to parliament. The CIR has nothing to do with this.

Joseph Portelli

Feb 17th, 09:24

sur jew sinjura m. borg meta ma tkellimx attakkajtuh ax inheba u meta issa qed johrog fil-berah il-qerq tal-labour, qed tattakkawh ax qed jitkellem - dik kampanja pozittiva!!!

Victor Calleja

Feb 17th, 10:59

Le dik il weghda li kullhadd ghandu jkun kontabbli specjalment ministru.

Charles Taliana

Feb 17th, 11:18

Ghalkemm is sugget ma huwix fuq l- ARRIVA , nahseb int wiehed li ma tuzax dan it trasport biex tghid li kien succes .

twanny borg

Feb 17th, 14:52

Charles b'istess ragunament int ma issuqx ghax qatt ma kont wara xarabank tibla d-diesel. Jew fuq bankina jaghmluk dahna sewda.

Denis Pace

Feb 17th, 10:16

We'll see in court.....

Edmond Micallef

Feb 17th, 11:03

You should know better Dottor.....swiss bankers do not divulge information on their customers, not even if ordered by the police. They have always been adamant to comply to such regulations and are still very adamant to remain so. That is why certain depositors still keep using their services.

You mention that ''no ominous..." How do you know? AG only gave the order to the police yesterday.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 17th, 13:27

@Edmond MIcallef

You should remove your blinkers and open your eyes to the truth that Austin Gatt has made the records available to the police.

Victor Caruana

Feb 17th, 10:00

Cornelius, Bartolo ma tella' l-ebda email fuq fb, imma gie ttagjat.

Denis Pace

Feb 17th, 10:17

Bartolo dejjem johrog b'xi "skandlu"....Kumbinazzjoni????

Ronnie Callus

Feb 17th, 09:32

Well said. Enough is Enough now. The smoke has been seen a long time ago but Dr.Gonzi never saw it as he never saw the people's cry. He never gave notice to responsable persons such as the auditur.

Albert Caligari Conti

Feb 17th, 07:33

Doing nothing wrong. If Tony's can why shouldn't Austin.Malta tghana ilkoll vera?If you are ready to attack be prepared to be counter attacked.This is not just a one man game as you planed it to be but it could be many.

Denis Pace

Feb 17th, 10:18

He cannot.....he has to go all the way.........Wait and see!

RONALD ARRY

Feb 16th, 20:58

tinsiex li fi zmien efa , efa kin jikmanda , imma qedin fi zmien gonzi PaNic , u milli jider mux gonzi jikmanda

Joe Sammut

Feb 16th, 21:18

Il-punt hu li l-kont kien dikjarat fl-2005 meta kellu ‘l-ommu hajja u kien ghadu qed jjirrendi d-dividends.
L-importani hu jekk iddahlux id-dividends biss mill-istess kont (Fund).
Nistennew u naraw la johrog kollox iswed fuq l-abjad.

Denis Pace

Feb 17th, 10:20

Nothing to hide????

Wait and see!

Mr Stephen Borg

Feb 16th, 20:52

A very poor smoke screen from Austin Gatt. The electorate wants to know what was discussed in those meetings because those meetings where held between a government minister and a businessman which earned thousands in commissions on oil procurement. Those are the real questions jm busutill.

J. Montebello

Feb 16th, 23:14

@jm bisuttil, If the hard disk contining emails is attached to a computer with operating system that it's language is set to maltese when opining such emails the operating system will convert the dates to maltese automatically. this is normal and you can test this by simply try to open an email archive that was saved with an english operating system with a maltese language operating system.

jm busuttil

Feb 17th, 00:25

@ Stephen Borg

Well you cannot say anything better just watching One. Well it is good to know what has been discussed lately between Joseph Muscat and the Oil suppliers.

If you have not heard about this yet this is because as I said before you only hear One.

I also heard on all media about il-blokka bajda in a Labour club. Have you hear about it?

R. Saliba

Feb 16th, 20:25

You forgot to write that these 'facts' are your opinion.

Roberta Sciberras

Feb 16th, 22:21

@ R. Saliba: That a Presidential pardon was granted is a fact not an opinion. No pardon is ever given unless there is a crime involved, otherwise what's the point of a pardon. Maybe it would be better for you to get off the high horse and be a little less patronising. It would do you a lot of good.

Mr Alistaire Gill

Feb 16th, 23:44

@ R Saliba
As if you are not paying heavily for the kickbacks when you pay your water and electricity bills.
So according to you the presidential pardon was given for a fairy tale?

sammy cassar

Feb 17th, 02:37

what facts? these are not facts but want you would like facts to be. Keep on dreaming.

Denis Pace

Feb 17th, 10:21

Those are your facts.
???Fabricated emails???
Tax fraud????

Denis Pace

Feb 17th, 10:21

Il MLP ma tantx hu herqan b'din. Tghid ghaliex?

Joe Sammut

Feb 16th, 21:45

L-emails setgha baghtom politiku ma’ “Ganni tal-belt” il-messagier.

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