The pardon given to oil trader George Farrugia may be withdrawn if police investigations into fresh revelations confirm he did not tell the whole truth, according to the Prime Minister.
Joseph Muscat yesterday said the Cabinet would be waiting for direction from the police after Malta Today published a series of e-mails appearing to show that Mr Farrugia had obtained free UK football tickets for a former director at the Malta Resources Authority.
The MRA director, Godwin Sant, was suspended from the Sustainable Energy and Water Conservation Unit with immediate effect by the government yesterday pending investigations.
Dr Muscat said Cabinet was not privy to the information that Mr Farrugia had given the police. “He was bound to tell all and I am informed that he had told police he had nothing more to add to his statements.
“If I have confirmation from the authorities, most notably the police, that Mr Farrugia did not tell all he knew, I will, after taking the necessary advice, ask Cabinet to consider withdrawing the pardon.”
It is obvious and logical that we will investigate the allegations
When contacted Police Commissioner Michael Cassar said the police would be investigating the claims made by the newspaper.
“It is obvious and logical that we will investigate the allegations but I have no further comment to make at this stage.”
The fresh claims go back to 2009 when Mr Sant served as director for energy regulation and later chief officer energy policy at the MRA.
Mr Farrugia, who was given a pardon in 2013 to reveal everything he knew on the oil scandal unveiled by Malta Today that same year, had told police he had no information to give them on alleged corruption at Enemalta after 2005.
The e-mails released yesterday by the newspaper point to a direct line of communication between a Trafigura official and Mr Sant. In another e-mail Mr Farrugia is informing an oil official of Mr Sant’s whereabouts to be able to send him the tickets to the hotel.
The Malta Today report claimed Mr Sant kept a very close relationship with Mr Farrugia, even furnishing him with details of other developments related to what was taking place under the energy portfolio at the MRA.
The newspaper also carried what it says were e-mails exchanged between Mr Farrugia’s wife Cathy and former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi. Ms Farrugia, who knew Dr Gonzi as an employee of the Mizzi Organisation, e-mailed him to set up a meeting with her husband.
Gonzi: no meetings held on tenders
Last night Dr Gonzi issued a statement saying he had replied to her e-mail asking her about the subject and when told it was to do with a tender, he told her he did not accept to hold meetings about tenders, on a point of principle.
He insisted with her that everything should be on record and if there were any allegations of irregularities they must be referred to the competent authorities.
Speaking at the Żebbuġ Labour Party club, Dr Muscat said the e-mails uncovered by the newspaper showed the contrary of what Dr Gonzi told the Public Accounts Committee last week, that he did not know who Mr Farrugia was.
Mr Farrugia has admitted advancing commissions to high-ranking Enemalta officials to ensure the international companies he represented, Trafigura and Total, would win lucrative oil and fuel tenders.
The commissions were paid by Mr Farrugia’s company, which also furnished expensive gifts to officials who sat on the fuel procurement board, according to evidence produced in court.
Several former Enemalta officials have been charged in court with corruption. The police have not yet charged Mr Farrugia’s brothers despite indications that they knew of the bribes.
kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com