Two businessmen charged in connection with the Enemalta scandal bought oil from clients of the man granted a presidential pardon to spill the beans, a magistrate heard yesterday.

George Farrugia testified that he met Cassar Ship Repair chairman Tony Cassar and Francis Portelli, of Virtú Ferries, over the purchase of oil the two businessmen would make through their company, Island Bunker Oils Limited.

The two stand charged with bribery, taking a private interest in an adjudication process and withmoney laundering.

He never discussed oil prices and only attended the meetings because he was accompanying his clients, oil trading companies

The prosecution is alleging that the men were aware of the conflict of interest both Tancred Tabone, a former chairman of Enemalta and State-owned bunkering company, MOBC, and the former CEO, Frank Sammut, had when they hid their shares in IBOL and bid for Ene-malta tenders.

Mr Tabone and Mr Sammut are facing charges of fraud, bribery and money laundering. Mr Farrugia said he had never discussed oil prices with Mr Cassar and Mr Portelli and only attended the meetings because he was accompanying his clients, oil trading companies.

Mr Farrugia did not appear when he was summoned to testify at the beginning of the sitting and was fined €70 for being in contempt of court. However, the fine was rescinded when he showed up about 30 minutes later.

In a previous sitting, the editor of Maltatoday, Saviour Balzan, who had broken the story of the oil scandal and the alleged taking of illegal commissions on oil tenders, said that Mr Cassar and Mr Portelli had nothing to do with the scandal.

He said that there was an ocean of difference between the purchase of oil and the bunkering of the same commodity.