The State-owned bunkering company MOBC had been “drained” by its former chairman and CEO to suit their interest in the competing Island Bunker Oil Ltd (IBOL), a company they were silent partners in, the court heard yesterday.

Tancred Tabone, former chairman of Enemalta and MOBC, together with the former CEO, Frank Sammut, hid their shares in IBOL with the help of two other businessmen, Cassar Ship Repair chairman Tony Cassar and Francis Portelli, of Virtú Ferries.

The details emerged in the first sitting against Mr Cassar and Mr Portelli who are pleading not guilty to bribery, taking a private interest in an adjudication process and money laundering.

Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Cassar testified that Mr Portelli and Mr Cassar knew Mr Tabone and Mr Sammut were public officials.

Yet they chartered ships to MOBC when they had a direct conflict of interest.

He said that the main scope of IOBL was to drain business from MOBC so the company could become more powerful.

Any profit that was being made was because of the positions that Mr Tabone and Mr Sammut held, the witness said.

When asked by defence lawyer, Steve Tonna Lowell, whether Mr Tabone and Mr Sammut had asked for any money from Mr Cassar and Mr Portelli, Mr Cassar said that they received money coming from business done with MOBC.

Police Inspector Angelo Gafà, who forms part of the prosecuting team, interjected and said that, according to the law, there was no need for Mr Tabone or Mr Sammut to ask for anything because they accepted money.

The fact that Mr Cassar and Mr Portelli participated in this meant that they had broken the law, Mr Cassar said.

The witness said that the minute that Mr Tabone and Mr Sammut involved themselves in IOBL, there was a private interest that was compounded by the fact that IOBL traded with MOBC.

The case continues.