The head of the EU Anti-Fraud Agency, Giovanni Kessler has denied that he told Gayle Kimberley, a key Dalligate witness, that she should fear former European Commissioner John Dalli.

“... I absolutely deny it, strongly,” Mr Kessler said in a telephone interview.

He also denied that “there was any wine” at the lunch Dr Kimberley was invited to after the interrogation.

The claims, made by Dr Kimberley while testifying in the Maltese courts, caused a ruckus in Brussels and fuelled claims for Mr Kessler’s resignation.

“...The interview in Portugal was a very normal and accurate interview. The text was reviewed by her and she eventually asked for some corrections and they have been granted,” Kessler said.

Reacting to concerns by the OLAF Supervisory Committee over potential breaches made in the Dalli investigation, he insisted that the committee never said that OLAF had done anything illegal.

Full interview in The Sunday Times of Malta.

mmicallef@timesofmalta.com