Former officials involved in privatising Enemalta’s petroleum division yesterday denied being pressured by or receiving gifts from a man charged with bribery in the oil procurement scandal.

Mario Mizzi, ex-CEO of Malta Investment Management Company Ltd, which is represented on the adjudicating committee within the privatisation unit, and employee Victoria Wilson said they received nothing from former Enemalta chief projects officer Ray Ferris.

Mr Ferris is pleading not guilty to trading in influence, corruption and fraud and bribery.

In a previous sitting, the court heard oil trader George Farrugia say that he gave Mr Ferris a crystal and silver centrepiece and two bonbonnières, bought from Victor Azzopardi Jewellers. Mr Farrugia was granted a presidential pardon to tell all he knows about the scandal.

Testifying yesterday, Mr Mizzi said he knew the accused as a liaison officer with Enemalta who provided the unit with information to help the privatisation process. He was the person to ask for technical information when bidders requested clarifications.

Asked if he had ever been pressured by Mr Ferris or received any gifts, Mr Mizzi said he had not.

Ms Wilson told the court that, in his liaison role, Mr Ferris had provided a huge amount of information because the bidders’ requests were enormous.

She categorically denied that he had offered her any sort of gift, noting that she was not part of the adjudication board and even if he did make an offer, he would have been talking to deaf ears.

The permanent secretary at the Finance Ministry, Alfred Camilleri, said he did not have any information on the procurement scandal but did have a file on the petroleum division privatisation, which was an ongoing process.

The case continues.