Former ambassador Tony Debono yesterday stood by his earlier denial of claims he had threatened to destroy pardoned oil trader George Farrugia.

Mr Debono was replying to questions by Times of Malta after Mr Farrugia’s lawyer Siegfried Borg Cole told a court on Monday that Mr Debono had phoned him and made threats against his client.

He testified that Mr Debono told him to watch his step as he was backed by an unspecified organisation.

Dr Borg Cole was speaking during proceedings against former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone, who is pleading not guilty to fraud, bribery and money laundering in connection with the purchase of oil at the corporation. Details about the call originally emerged in December when Mr Farrugia had testified that the former ambassador had phoned his lawyer and that the threats were made when the call was on speaker phone. Dr Borg Cole said that after being threatened, he terminated the call.

In January Mr Debono had filed a judicial protest denying Mr Farrugia’s claim and accusing him of perjury as his presidential pardon had been granted on condition that he would tell the truth about the oil procurement scandal.

Contacted yesterday by this newspaper, Mr Debono repeatedly referred to the judicial protest and to his lawyer Roberto Montalto.

“To date Mr Farrugia has not yet replied to this judicial protest,” Mr Debono remarked.

On his part, Dr Montalto said the “organisation” Dr Borg Cole mentioned was just an allegation by Mr Farrugia, to which his client had replied.

“Some of Mr Farrugia’s claims were intended to harm Mr Debono,” Mr Montalto said, adding that Mr Farrugia wanted to take revenge because Mr Debono was crucial in exposing how he was siphoning funds from the Farrugia business.