The Prime Minister yesterday denied having been given invoices in 2011 indicating the possibility of corruption in the procurement of oil, allegations about which have been made in the press in recent weeks.

Had he been approached, he would have referred the matter to the competent authorities

“The Prime Minister was never approached by any member of the Security Service (or anyone else) and shown any invoices related to Aikon Ltd (the company belonging to oil trader George Farrugia) or any other company.

“The Prime Minister reiterated that had he been approached he would have referred the matter to the competent authorities for full investigation,” a spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister said.

He was reacting to a report by Malta Today – which in January broke the story on the oil scandal – that said Dr Gonzi was approached about the case by an agent from Malta’s intelligence agency back in 2011.

The Finance Minister had recently revealed that the service had tipped off the ministry about alleged tax fraud taking place at Mr Farrugia’s company Aikon Ltd.

In fact, The Times was informed that a source had given to the Security Service a detailed dossier about the case back in August of 2011.

However, it is not yet clear whether the document only contained information on tax fraud, which was later passed on to the Finance Ministry or whether it contained documents indicating corruption.

On this point, the OPM said it had been advised by the Attorney General that in the circumstances “there is no legal basis for bringing the workings of the Security Service into the public domain.”

However, the OPM categorically denied that the Prime Minister had been made privy to the case.

The head of the service Godfrey Scicluna – who is currently suspended as he faces criminal charges over a traffic accident in which an elderly man was injured – had refused to speak to The Times when contacted.

Similarly, questions sent to the police in this connection remained unanswered.

mmicallef@timesofmalta.com

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