Updated - Adds Labour statement
Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia had no knowledge of any corruption in the procurement of fuel, while former minister Austin Gatt was never given any donation, according to John’s Group chief executive Chris Farrugia.
Effectively contradicting details given by his uncle, pardoned oil trader George Farrugia, during a Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee on Monday, Chris Farrugia claimed everyone was in the dark over what was happening, including Mr Farrugia’s own brothers who were shareholders in the company he was running, PowerPlan Ltd.
Chris Farrugia told Times of Malta that a verification exercise conducted so far found “no trace” of any cash donations, neither to Dr Gatt or anyone else.
“So far no cash donations were found. There is no trace that in 2008 we gave any cash donation. Definitely, there was nothing of the sort but if he (George Farrugia) made the donation himself, I do not know. Only he can tell you,” he said, when contacted.
Dr Mallia was engaged as a lawyer by the Farrugia family, owners of John's Garage group, in 2010 during their dispute with George Farrugia over misappropriation of funds from PowerPlan to Mr Farrugia's company Aikon.
More details in The Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.
LABOUR PARTY REACTION
The Labour Party said in a statement that reports such as this proved that Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia had acted correctly and had no prior knowledge of the scandal.
Such reports belied PN claims and further underlined that the political responsibility for the oil procurement scandal rested on the PN.