Total executives had told their Maltese agents in 2011 they were not interested in doing business with them unless their team included George Farrugia – the man granted a presidential pardon in the oil procurement scandal.

The information sheds new light on the special relationship Mr Farrugia had with international oil companies tendering for Enemalta’s contracts.

The resistance to sever links with Mr Farrugia emerged during meetings that the Farrugia brothers, owners of the John’s Group, had with Total in 2010.

They explained to the French oil giant that they had sacked their brother George from their oil trading company Powerplan after their caught him siphoning off business to his company Aikon.

The Times today reveals the details of these meetings, as described in 2010 investigative audit.

mmicallef@timesofmalta.com