The Police Commissioner did not attempt to verify Finance Minister Tonio Fenech’s claim that a Maltese clock, delivered to his home some years ago by businessman Ray Farrugia and his brother George, who is embroiled in the oil scandal, was of no monetary value.

The Police Commissioner has himself not asked to see it

Mr Fenech confirmed this when The Times asked for access to the clock, or at least a photograph of it, so that it could be valued by an independent expert.

“Your request is simply journalistic curiosity. A value of a clock is not determined by a picture,” said Mr Fenech’s spokesman.

“Secondly, it has been clearly established that the gift was not given by George Farrugia but came from a private individual.”

He added: “The Police Commissioner has himself not asked to see the clock, and one fails to understand The Times’ continued insistence on this subject.”

The clock in question made the headlines two weeks ago when the Labour Party accused Mr Fenech of receiving a gift worth more than €5,000 from rogue oil trader George Farrugia, who has been granted a presidential pardon to reveal all he knows about the Enemalta oil procurement corruption scandal.

Mr Fenech immediately denied the assertion, having previously denied ever meeting Mr Farrugia in any formal capacity.

However, after the Police Commissioner allowed him to confront Mr Farrugia at Police Headquarters, Mr Fenech told a press conference he had received a clock made by Ray Farrugia’s wife as a token of her admiration.

He insisted it was worth nothing and given to him not by George Farrugia but by his sister-in-law, although it was delivered to his flat by George and Ray Farrugia.

Mr Fenech, who does not recall details of this encounter, says he accepted the gift before Enemalta was included in his ministerial portfolio (February 2010).

He said George Farrugia told the police the gift came from his sister-in-law and only had sentimental value.

Mr Farrugia also told the police he met Mr Fenech at the Finance Ministry to discuss a tender he had not won.

Mr Fenech has not contested that this meeting took place but said he did not have a clear recollection of it.

He also said he had told the rogue oil trader there was nothing he could do about tenders which followed a set procedure.

Mr Fenech has refused an interview with The Times on this subject, claiming that all questions have already been answered.

The Times asked to see the clock after it emerged that former Enemalta chief project officer Ray Ferris, the seventh man to be arraigned over the oil scandal, allegedly received a silver plate from George Farrugia.

Mr Ferris has been charged with aggravated fraud, trading in influence and corruption.