A court expert told a magistrate yesterday that one of the 11 tapes on which the police recorded their interrogation with Silvio Zammit, the man at the centre of the Dalligate affair, was empty.

Martin Bajada, appointed to transcribe the statements, said he transcribed 10 of the tapes because the 11th was blank. He submitted a 550-page document with all that was said.

Prosecuting officer Jonathan Ferris told the court he would pass on the prosecution’s copy, as perhaps that one worked.

Dr Bajada was testifying in the criminal case against Mr Zammit, 50, who has been accused of bribery and trading in influence – allegedly asking for a €60 million bribe – when John Dalli was European commissioner for health.

Asked by defence lawyers Kris Busietta and Edward Gatt whether he could confirm that the part where former police commissioner John Rizzo called Mr Zammit a “cesspit” was in the 10 tapes he had transcribed, Dr Bajada said he could not remember off hand.

Mr Ferris accused the defence of trying to “make headlines” with such claims but Dr Gatt said he simply wanted the truth to emerge.

The case continues in December.