The presidential pardon given to rogue oil trader George Farrugia was the preferred action for the government because it could ensure that he would not keep a cent made out of illegal activities.

Speaking in a recorded interview this morning on Radju Malta’s Ghandi x’Nghid, Dr Gonzi accused the media of not investigating and not asking questions.

He said that as soon as the pardon was given, the Labour Party started to create doubts with candidate Manwel Mallia asked why was the pardon given when the case could have been taken to the Corruption Commission.

Had this option been taken, Dr Gonzi said, the government would not have had the option to ensure that all profits made out of any illegal activity were not retained.

The pardon, he said, was drawn up exactly as advised by the Attorney General, the police would now investigate and the AG would then confirm whether there was a case for action to be taken.

With the pardon, the government had given the police a strong tool to make sure that any wrongdoing was uncovered.

The government was saying it would attack corruption and that was what it was doing. It was now up to the people to decide.

Dr Gonzi referred to the case surrounding PL deputy leader Toni Abela, who, he said, was heard in a recording saying that he had politically manipulated a police officer.

(A second recording was uploaded yesterday after the programme was recorded.)

Dr Gonzi said that the Labour leader was defending his deputy in spite of Dr Abela’s actions. “This for me is scandalous.”

Asked about Minister Austin Gatt’s Swiss bank account and whether a bank account could be inherited, as the minister was claiming, Dr Gonzi clarified that this could be done because this was not a normal cash account but a fund account.

He said he was convinced that Dr Gatt’s non-declaration of the account had been unintentional, especially since he had declared it until 2005.

Dr Gatt had given his explanations and had now asked the Police Commissioner to investigate this account to establish that it had not been used.

Asked about former PN candidate Hermann Schiavone, who the party did not allow to contest this election, Dr Gonzi said it was true that three years ago he had told Dr Schiavone to start working on the district.

However, an allegation was made later which he had asked Dr Schiavone to tackle and if possible make a written declaration about.

This declaration, he said, was not made so he could not allow Dr Schiavone to contest.

In spite of being extremely hurt by this decision, Dr Schiavone remained loyal and he had the utmost respect for him, Dr Gonzi said.