Oil scandal goes to court - Frank Sammut disclosed information on other suspects
Tancred Tabone, Frank Sammut arraigned, granted bail - AG considering appeal
Updated - Adds charges, videos
Former Enemalta Chairman Tancred Tabone and petrochemist Frank Sammut have been arraigned in court and accused of corruption in the oil procurement scandal. Both pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.
The first to be arraigned was Mr Tabone who was accused of aggravated bribery, a charge which carries a maximum jail term of 14 years.
According to the charge sheet, Mr Tabone was also accused of bribery through his involvement in Island Bunker Oils Ltd, FP Holdings Ltd, Eldaren Shipping Lrd, Oarsman Maritime Ltd, Anchor Bay Maritime Ltd and Island Oils Holding Ltd .
He was also accused of being an accomplice in the disclosure of profession information given to him in virtue of his public office, defrauding Mediterranean Offshore Bunkering Ltd (an Enemalta subsidiary) and money laundering.
Mr Tabone, a former president of the Chamber of Commerce, categorically denied the charges and was granted bail. Bail was set against a personal guarantee of €15,000 and a deposit of €3,000. The police objected to bail, with Inspector Gafa explaining that Mr Tabone had not cooperated with the police investigation and that, therefore, evidence in his respect, relied on witnesses, such as George Farrugia, who would still need to testify in future sittings.
Defence counsel Gianella de Marco rejected that Mr Tabone had not cooperated with the police, saying her client had simply availed himself of the right not to reply to certain questions. However he had obeyed the police fully in respect to the conditions of his police bail.
Mr Sammut was arraigned separately and faced the same charges. He was granted bail under the same conditions. During the arraignment, the prosecuting police inspector, Angelo Gafa' said that Mr Sammut had fully cooperated with the police had
Lawyers Gianella de Marco and Gianluca Caruana Curran appeared for Mr Tabone and Joe Giglio for Mr Sammut.
The two were re-arrested yesterday and spent the night at police headquarters in Floriana. They were taken to the law court in two unmarked police cars which drove into the court garage.
The court hall was full of people, including many journalists as well as the families of the accused.
The arraignment comes just over a week after the granting of a presidential pardon to businessman George Farrugia, the local agent of Dutch oil company Trafigura to tell all on the case.
Both the accused were ordered by Magistrate Gabriella Vella not to have contact with Mr Farrugia.
The Office of the Attorney General is considering an appeal over bail and the bail conditions.
The police in the past weeks also questioned Tony Cassar, Chairman of Cassar Ship Repair and Francis Portelli, of Virtu Ferries.
It has been alleged that Mr Sammut received kickbacks on oil contracts awarded to Trafigura in 2004.
Separately, the police also investigated the role of the oil storage company Island Bunker Oils as well as a chain of subsidiary companies which belong to Mr Tabone, Mr Cassar and Mr Portelli.
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Emanuel Camilleri
Feb 20th, 15:23
Tal misthija meta tkun taf li dawn ghandhom salarju fenominali meta jkunu f'kariga bhal dik,kollox frankat bhal nighdu ahna Karozza lussuza maintenance free, fuel free,l'aqwa mobile phone free,elettriku free,bonuses kbar u elf haga ohra.Imma xorta mhux bizzejjed ghalihom ghax huma jkunu iridu li uliedhom, ulied uliedhom u ulied uliedhom ma jkollhomx ghalfejn ibatu fil hajja u jghixu hajja komda.
jonathan brincat
Feb 20th, 13:54
With all due respect if we need to be going in the right direction in this country we need to have a death penalty for people caught corrupting poor malta and her loyal people.
Mr leo attard
Feb 19th, 20:31
are there any others involved? are these 2 the sacrificial lambs?
Joe Tabone
Feb 19th, 21:35
Leo,
If you have any additional information, please come forward. Luckily we have a key witness who has been granted a Presidential pardon. Let justice take its course.
P. Zammit
Feb 20th, 01:21
Why don't you wait for justice to take it's course of action instead of speculating ?
A Calleja
Feb 19th, 19:36
Disgusting !! What bail is that !!!! I repeat disjusting !!!!
D. A . Agius
Feb 19th, 18:22
No matter what many PN and PL bloggers write, the real issue here is: Why was it a NEWSPAPER which kicked off this case which is almost a DECADE old?
Where's the Permanent Commission against Corruption, Secret Service, Auditor General? Are these organisations all deaf and dumb? Do Politicians really empower these institutions to uncover Fraud, Embezzlement and Corruption? No cases from these.
Joe Bonanno
Feb 21st, 00:56
I've been asking the same question myself. These touted entities are nothing but paper tigers. The real scandal is that nothing is being done by the institutions that are duly empowered to seek out and eradicate corruption. Were they simply created to give a false impression that the authorities are on the ball? Maybe we should deputize journalists. They seem more resourceful and productive.
Joseph Gauci
Feb 19th, 18:20
Ma nistax nifhem kif dawn it-tariffi esegerati tad-dawl u l-ilma u dan l-iskandlu massiv u kellha tkun gazzetta li tidghilna x'kien ghaddej. Nihu l-impressjoni li hafna nies huma kuntenti jhallsu waqt li haddiehor seraq kemm felah meta suppost kien qed jahdem fl-interess taghna. Isthu jekk tafu kif. Dal pajjiz ghandu bzonn bidla urgenti. Ghadni kemm ircevejt kont ta €192 ta xahrejn!!
Charles Micallef
Feb 19th, 17:43
this is the tip of the proverbial Iceberg, no wonder Enemalta Tariffs went sky high overnight, now we know it was nothing to do with the price of oil, but with individual's greed!!!!
P. Zammit
Feb 20th, 01:23
So the tariffs went sky high overnight because of these bribes ? You have defnintely got your maths wrong.
Joseph Eynaud
Feb 19th, 17:31
U kieku ma kienx ghat-Times u Malta Today ma nafu b'xejn. Prosit Times u Malta Today.
Jonathan Camilleri
Feb 19th, 17:26
Frank Sammut and Tancred Tabone got a get ouf of jail card by paying bail. Is the amount less than the tax they evaded? Dr. Gonzi seems to have been quite benevolent in asking for a presidential pardon for Tancred Tabone, which reflects his good intentions, I guess.
Anton Briffa
Feb 19th, 17:07
Jekk kelli xi dubju bejn l PN u il-PL issa zgur li nehejtu. Gonzi mar bil fatti ghand l pulizija u itiehdu passi u JM prova jahbi anke kas zghir ga kazin ahseb u ara kas kbir kemm jahbih aktar li ma jidirx ikrah
sorry imma rega darli PN zgur ergajt din id-darba
John Micallef
Feb 19th, 17:49
Anton... il-pulizija bdiet l-investigazzjoni minn fuq artiklu tal maltatoday... ma kellhomx bzonn il permess tal Prim Ministru... anzi il fatt li jistgha jkun hemm suspett ckejken li xi nies mill Kabinett jistghu jaghti il kas li kienu involuti suppost jkun iktar responsabli li ma jindahalx fl-investigazzjoni.
David Magro
Feb 19th, 18:38
Hallina Anton, toqghodx tilghaba li kont qieghed ma JM....il-fatt li Gonzipn kien prompted u kien hemm hafna kumbinazzjonijiet jixthu dell ikrah fuq il-PN....il-Ministri xoghol hu biss ta Messagier? Hallina, b`min irridu jaghddu z-zmien ta GonziPN...dawn qatt mhuma accountable ta ghemilhom ?
R Psaila
Feb 19th, 19:27
Ghaziz Anton,
Jekk vera darlek minhabba dak li semmejt, mela allura nahseb li ma tixtieqx tivvota b'mohhok imma b'qalbek. Ma nidhaqx bik u nifhmek ghax mhux facli li taghmel shift meta kull ma tkun smajt u rajt f'hajtek hija naha wahda tal-munita. Trid ikollok il-kuragg. Pero qatt m'hu tard. Tibzax tkun parti mill-istorja!!!
Ronnie Callus
Feb 19th, 20:19
Sur.Briffa, Dr.Gonzi taf meta jmur ghand il-pulizija ?? meta jkun darhu mal-hajt u ma' jkunx jista jghamel mod iehor.Taf x'qed naraw minn Dr.Gonzi u shabu ? li qed jghamlu minn kollox biex dan l-iskandlu ta'serqta' flus il-poplu ittuh ftit importanza jew tahbuh bl-invenzjoni ta' l-ewwel blokka u issa trab li la tafu kienx trab tas-sapun jew terra. Kunu ftit serji maghna jekk jogghobkom.
C Busuttil
Feb 20th, 06:30
Sur Briffa
Jien mhux ser nivvota u aktar ma jmur iz-zmien aktar konvint li qed niehu d-decizjoni t-tajba. Ghax il-korruzzjoni taht dan il-gvern saret haga normali u l-PM jista jmur kemm iried ghand il-pulizija imma jibqa l-fatt li saru taht imniehru u min jaf kemm hemm aktar.
U ghalkemm s'issa mhux ser nivvota jekk il-PN jaqa fil-bassezzi kontra qalbi nohrog nivvota PL naghtihom il-1 u nieqaf
Zuzu Borg
Feb 19th, 16:55
Well done PM you gave lesson how justice is for every one,you are a true leader and as you always sad judge me of what i do not what i say.How can any politician can be politically responsible for what these people are accused if find guilty first.If so during the 80s most of the LP ministers should had been in prison.We are all under the same sky so ask your self if you had chance to do same.
C Muscat
Feb 19th, 18:07
bil well done tieghek ghandna izjed minn 5000 milhun euro dejn!!!
A Farrugia
Feb 19th, 18:17
Zuzu il well done trid tghidha lill Malta Today u li TOM, mela lill PM, kieku jien floku immur ninheba meta niftakar li gara dan kolllu taht il legislatura tieghu, u hu ma kien jaf b'xejn !!!!. Dam biex induna .......dawk il miljuni kollha li gew misruqa mit- taxxi taghna !!! Dik tmexxija responsabli issejhilha ........ Whistle Blower is on the way asap >>>>>>>>>>
I Mercieca
Feb 19th, 16:33
Dawn huma l-kredenzjali tal-PN. Il-PN ma jharisx lejn l-ucuh anke jekk lest jitlef il-voti. Int min int trid tpatti t'ghemilek. Ara s-Socjalisti..... eeeeeeeeee dawk le bil-provi jekk tkun partitarju taghhom kollox jinheba.
Ann Galea
Feb 19th, 16:49
Hekk messu ukoll GONZI iddefenda lil dawn fuq skandlu bhal dak taz zejt min fuq dahar il poplu. Per tilef benefattur
Malcolm Seychell
Feb 19th, 16:32
Ahjar tghix taht dittatorjat ghax fid demokrazija ma tezistiex gustizzja. taht dittatur dawn kien jittiehdilhom l gid kollu u jinghata lura il poplu. bid demokrazija jhallas dejjem l onest
S. Vella
Feb 19th, 17:04
What a load of nonsense. A dictator would pocket the money. The 'people' would never see a cent.
I think you should research and learn what the term 'dictator' actually means.
Joseph Apap
Feb 19th, 17:08
Kemm sejjer zball Ara Mugabe U l-palazz tieghu hawn email iddur u tara in nies tieghu fil faqar u l guh
Iz zmien tbiddel L-ezekuttiv tac civil ikun responsabli u mhux il ministru
Spicca iz zmien li kull file jrid jarah u jghaddi minn idejn il ministru
Halli il qorti tahdem u il quddiem naraw
Peter Bonnici
Feb 19th, 17:10
You're free to move to North Korea.
Christian Sant
Feb 19th, 17:37
qed tghid tippreferi tghix f'pajjiz dittatorjat milli f'demokrazzija?? nispera fhimtek hazin.
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 19th, 16:22
Grazzi ghal Gonzi li hawn Malta hawn naqa gustizja ... kienu jaghmlu listess tal lejber kieku fil gvern? jew ma jejdu xejn ma mhurx il partit jidher ikrah!!
John Attard
Feb 19th, 16:17
Once elections are over this will be history my friends...wait and see..time will tell.
Thomas Mifsud
Feb 19th, 16:07
Shame on any Maltese man who betrays his country and its people. The Prime minister and his ministers have a lot to answer to the people of Malta. We look forward to the day when justice is done.
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 19th, 16:23
They answered already; you are seeing justice being made because the PM went strait to the police. Would have lejber done the same; or they would first consider the damage to the image of the party and then decide what to do!?
E Bonnici
Feb 19th, 16:29
Ghall-flus hawn min mhux lil pajjizu u lil gensu jbigh, imm'anke lil ruhu.
Mr Joe Micallef
Feb 19th, 16:54
They already have! The problem is that, you being the coward you are who can only throw accusations without substantiating any, was wishing for a different answer and outcome.
C Muscat
Feb 19th, 17:02
Joseph Aquilina tkomplux tidhku bina billi izzeffnu lil kummissarju. Kull gvern ghandu d-dmir u d-dover li jaghmel checks and balances biex dawn tal-misthija ma jsirux.
Trid tkun ghama izraq biex ma tindunax b dawn il-miljuni misruqa minghand il-poplu.
Joe Bonanno
Feb 21st, 00:45
Joe Micallef
Now you want substantiation? How about substantiating your "Criminal" costing accusation against Joseph Muscat. Oh, I know, one law for us and one law for them. Who's being the coward? But of course, all this oil business is just a PL "Frame Up."
R. Cilia
Feb 19th, 16:02
L-AG mhux se jitlob li jiffrizawlhom l-assi lil dawn iz-zewg sinjuri.?
John Attard
Feb 19th, 16:13
Delayed question...he already has!
John Attard
Feb 19th, 16:13
Delayed question...he already has!
Jason Zammit
Feb 19th, 15:58
Jista xi hadd jajdli xsar minnu is Sur Konrad Mizzi ?????? bahhhhhh sparixxa ....... im missing the saying ' shame on you minister ' hahahahhahahahahaha
Jay Aquilina
Feb 19th, 16:06
tista tilluminana x'ghandu x'jaqsam konrad mizzi ma dan l artiklu? pappagall
M Busuttil
Feb 19th, 16:21
Bhalissa l aktar kumment li qed nimmisja huwa ta Gonzi.......iggudikawni fuq li ghamel mhux fuq li nghid!! Hemm xi hadd se jirrizenja?
Jason Zammit
Feb 19th, 16:48
sur busuttil
iftah ftit is set tat TV (nispera li ma kellekx bzonn tmur ghand ebda ministru biex ituk it TV) ghamlu fuq Euro News , issa ohrog barra u ara jekk tarax dawk il protesti li tista tara Spanja , Franza , Olanda , Portugal , Cipru, Grecja....... rajt xi haga listess ??? mela issa igudika lil Gonzi
C Muscat
Feb 19th, 17:04
jason zammit hawn malta ma jsirux protesti ghax min jidher miskin hu; l-ebda permess u kollox jaghmlulek tqil inkluz ix-xoghol jekk ihalluk tahdem.
Joseph Borg
Feb 19th, 17:19
@ Jason Zammit
lolllllllllllllllllllll dahhaqtni tnejn.
mur ara l queues li jkun hemm meta xi knisja jew l kappillan jkun qed jqassam l ikel li jigi ta l ewropa. dawk nara jien.
qabbiztli demgha :)
Carl Callus
Feb 19th, 15:47
What a great democracy we live in. Its good to see that people who have abused of their position, will face the music. Well done.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Feb 19th, 18:35
don't speak too early my friend... being charged and arraigned does not mean being jailed!
Raphael Dingli
Feb 20th, 06:45
do not count your chickens - its not over till its over.
C Mercieca
Feb 19th, 15:45
allaħares konna aħna
Charles Zerafa
Feb 19th, 15:21
W ahna inhalsu miskien il poplu. viva il P.N.
S. Cuschieri
Feb 19th, 15:58
x'ghandu x'jaqsam li qed tghid? Viva l-PN ghax juri bic car li min hu korrott se jhallas mhux jinheba. imma xorta tridu ssibu xi haga fuq xiex tgergru!
Maria Xuereb
Feb 19th, 15:08
So the police said that Samut fully cooperated with them and had helped them with information on other suspects so does this mean that the pardon given to Farrugia wasn't needed at all because the police had all the invormation they needed. I hope not because if it is something fishy is going on. I hope that Farruga is not the King of this all and the others are the small fish.
Zuzu Borg
Feb 19th, 16:00
Yes you are totally wright he cooperated with police of course there are more suspects that why LP is worried about the pardon the Government gave to Mr Farrugia because now he can mention any one that where involved in the oil scandal per helps there are going to be some surprises when more names are going to be called from police we have to wait and see for sure he is not the only king SURPRISE
joe farrugia
Feb 19th, 16:06
il whistleblower hekk tahdem siehbi anzi bil whistleblower dak li tkun sraqt tista izommu mhux bhal proklama tkun kondizjonata.
Joseph Apap
Feb 19th, 17:12
At that time his brothers were all directors/shareholders of the oil firm/s
Gordon Farrugia
Feb 19th, 14:53
bail of EUR15,000 when they could have profited by hundreds of thousands - our courts have really become a laughing stock.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Feb 19th, 18:40
a bail is only a temporary guarantee! It's not a fine. let's wait till the case is closed cos that's when we will be able to judge the"punishment" given (although I don't have very high expectations!)
GL Calleja
Feb 19th, 14:52
Pardon me but has anybody else in this case been offered a Presidential Pardon like the one offered to Mr Farrugia? I think all this is a waste of TAX PAYER's money because after it is all said and done these people will be handed down a prison sentence followed by a SUSPENDED one for what ever years and of course maybe and I mean maybe return some of the bribe money back. Pathetic.
Kevin Bonnici
Feb 19th, 14:48
Mela mhux jissemma Austin Gatt???
Kemm tefghu tajn il Labour ....
credibility - zero
M Busuttil
Feb 19th, 16:22
First of all case not closed ....kemm fadal aktar x jinkixef!!
Secondly......gieli smajt b responsabilita politika?
Franco Attard Trevisan
Feb 19th, 18:42
We'll see... these are the first two... I'm pretty sure that if they are really clamping down on all involved there's gonna be a looonnggg list of people who'll be visiting the courts.
John Wayne
Feb 19th, 14:34
So where is the added value of Farrguia's pardon, since these people have been arraigned on the merits of police investigation?
Mr. M. Camilleri
Feb 19th, 14:31
Mela allegatament serqu lill-Maltin kollha u granted bail!
Viva l-ġustizzja!
Robert Cassar
Feb 19th, 18:20
Mr. Camilleri, you said it yourself, "allegedly" - meaning the final outcome has yet to be determined - in case you don't know its innocent until proven guilty in this country! - they are not dangerous people and therefore of course they should be granted bail, even alleged rapists and drug dealers are granted bail for God's sake!
Wait for the outcome and keep these ignorant comments to yourself
Adrian P. Cassar
Feb 19th, 19:15
Agree with Robert Cassar
Being under arrest while innocent is a breach of one's human rights.
The only reason one should be under arrest while undergoing trial is if one might be dangerous to society, or likely to escape or tamper with evidence.
Mary Ann Borg
Feb 19th, 14:29
Ezempju car ta' kemm mal PN m'hemmx tghawwig. Jekk hemm xamma ta' korruzzjoni il-PN ma jippruvax jahbija billi jmur ghand xi PulizijaLaburist biex ma jressaqx il-kaz. Ta' Toni Abela hemm recording li hu stess ammetta li qal hekk u fuq taz-zejt hemma proklama u emails imbabsa. Bil proklama Farrugia jista jikxef lil kullhadd u l-PN mhux talli ma bezax, talli rsista biex tinghata. JM gimmicks biss
Mario Cassar
Feb 19th, 14:21
Bil Whistleblower Act jew minghajru, il-Gvern immexxi mill PN ma jiddardarx ihalli l-Pulizija u l-Qrati jevaljwaw kazijiet ta' allegata korrezzjoni. Kif qal il-PM, 'Nobody has any protection from alleged acts of corruption under my watch'. Mhux bhal Labour li xebghu jitqanshu biex jiddefendu lil Toni Abela li mar ghand Pulizija Laburist halli ma jmexxix kaz ta' droga fil-kazin taghhom.
mario calleja
Feb 19th, 19:18
u biex tkun taf ezatt mr cassar dawk li tony abela kecca mil kazin ax kissru ligi dawn saru nazzjonalisti jigu l meetings u ilqajtuwhom b idejkhom miftuha. dik serjeta li andkhom . basta tajjru lil partit laburista . msomma kulhadd jaf li qed tghidu biex taljenaw ftit lil poplu mil akbar korruzzjoni li qatt kien hawn f pajjizna . ahna nbattu bil kontijiet u sinjur jixxala l aqwa il commision
Wenzu Cole
Feb 19th, 14:19
€3,000.00 Bail, nice............ very nice
niki micallef
Feb 19th, 14:10
u le,daqshekk malajr naghtuhom il liberta provizorja?biex ihalsu l'eluf ma nahsibx li ser ikollom problema.shittttttttttttt
twanny borg
Feb 19th, 14:08
GONZI L-aqwa prim ministru li kellha malta tahtu tikser il-ligi titressaq il-qorti int min int. ma jinfluezax il-pulizija u jirrapurtala kollox bla habi. Niftakar fi zmien raymond caruana x'differenza!!! Il-pl baqgha li kien tat-tajn u l-pn in-naha tal-verita'.
Donna Parnis
Feb 19th, 13:47
And so the drama starts to unfold, Wonder who else's name will now come out. Or are these two going to be the fall guys for the bigwigs.
Mary Camenzuli
Feb 19th, 13:39
Goes to show Lawrence Gonzi's integrity.
"Miegħi m'hemmx kantunieri, minn Imħallef sa skrivan...
min jilgħab man-nar miegħi jinħaraq".
What a contrast to Muscat about the drugs case in his own club.
.
Joseph Mifsud
Feb 19th, 17:00
ma hemmx kantunieri....ga bdejna naqtaw ad dritt....mela dik somma?? Ridikola ghal hsara li ghamlu dawn in nies. U nhallijom jiggerrew barra sakemm jghaddu guri????
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