Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in court yesterday categorically denied ever having discussions with rogue oil trader George Farrugia about Enemalta.

Confronted yesterday with copies of e-mails presented by Malta Today managing editor Saviour Balzan showing one of Dr Gonzi’s political aides granting Mr Farrugia an appointment with the then prime minister in 2009, Dr Gonzi reiterated that he had never spoken to Mr Farrugia on anything to do with oil and Enemalta.

“Let me make it clear once again. The implication that Saviour Balzan is trying to make, that I was in some form of regular contract with Mr Farrugia, is completely false.

The implication that Saviour Balzan is trying to make is completely false

“When in office, I met hundreds of people in hundreds of meetings and Mr Farrugia happened to be in a meeting related to a project proposal together with many other people. That doesn’t mean that I met him in the way that is being maliciously implied,” he said.

The meeting mentioned in the e-mails revealed in court yesterday refers to a presentation made to the Prime Minister on October 19, 2009, by Dubai-based company Horizon Terminals which wanted to develop a new terminal in Birżebbuġa together with a breakwater.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the company together with entrepreneur Beppe Hili and Mr Farrugia.

“I can’t imagine how you can call this a meeting with George Farrugia,” he said.

Dr Gonzi said that the only time he had spoken to Mr Farrugia was at a public social activity in Ħal Far where he met his family while touring an open day at the Aviation Park.

Dr Gonzi insisted that his government had nothing to hide on the oil scandal.

“Let me remind you that it was my government that recommended a presidential pardon to Mr Farrugia to make sure that the whole truth comes out,” Dr Gonzi said.

The allegations by Mr Balzan were made in court last Monday during a libel case filed against him by former minister Austin Gatt over an article in Malta Today.

Leonard Callus – the former PM’s aide who the e-mails show communicated with Mr Farrugia in 2009 – confirmed that the scheduled meeting had to do with the Horizon project proposal.

“Dr Gonzi never held a meeting with Mr Farrugia as implied by Mr Balzan,” Mr Callus said.