[attach id=305584 size="medium"]Frank Sammut[/attach]

Malta Today editor Saviour Balzan told a court yesterday that he kept the reporting about the oil procurement scandal “sober” and had more documents and details than what has appeared so far in the media.

Mr Balzan took to the witness stand in the case against Frank Sammut, who stands charged with bribery and money laundering in connection with the taking of illegal commissions on oil purchases.

Mr Sammut, a former chemistry teacher at De La Salle College, was CEO of Mediterranean Offshore Bunkering Company (MOBC) before being appointed to Enemalta’s oil procurement committee as an adviser to former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone in 2004. Mr Tabone also stands charged over similar allegations.

Mr Balzan said that what was obvious when he investigated the story was that there were transactions between a company owned by the man at the centre of the scandal, George Farrugia (who has been given a presidential pardon to spill the beans on the scandal) and Mr Sammut.

Defence lawyer Joe Giglio asked Police Inspector Jonathan Ferris why Mr Balzan was being asked to testify when he had only published an article.

Dr Giglio said that Mr Balzan posed a problem for him when it came to cross examination as Mr Balzan would not reveal the source of the story that was prejudicial.

The case continues.