An Appeals Court has confirmed a Magistrates' Court decision which had seen a businessman who has been interrogated over his involvement in the oil procurement scandal get a one-year conditional discharge for bribery.

The businessman, Anthony Cassar of Cassar Ship Repair Limited, had been convicted in June 2008 after he paid generous tips to a man for passing on ship repair work to his company.

Mr Cassar is also a shareholder in Island Bunkering Oil Limited, which had taken a significant share of business from Enemalta’s former oil bunkering subsidiary (MOBC) which was directly implicated in the scandal.

In the appeal, the court heard how a man Mr Cassar had paid - Ronald Galea, received some €18,300 in 2007 with which he bought a Bavaria 29 cabin cruiser.

Mr Galea received a five per cent tip on every invoice for work awarded to Mr Cassar’s company.

He was also given an interest free loan for some €46,000 with no time limit to pay back.

Mr Galea had admitted to accepting the bribe and was given a two-year jail term suspended for four years.

In his testimony, Mr Cassar said that a tip such as that paid to Mr Galea was normal in business. He argued among that the Magistrates Court had incorrectly weighed up the evidence resulting in him erroneously being found guilty.