Officials of the Privatisation Unit and the committee which adjudicated bids for the privatisation of Enemalta’s petroleum division this morning denied in court that they were ever pressured or received gifts from Ray Ferris, the liaison officer between Enemalta and the committee.

Mr Ferris is accused of bribery in connection with the oil procurement scandal. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130307/local/-Enemalta-officer-wanted-cash-to-influence-tenders-.460570#.Ut5eEX94WSM

Inspector Angelo Gafa had  told a court in March last year that Ferris had received gifts from oil trader Goerge Farrugia who was  bidding to run the petroleum division of Enemalta and the corporation’s subsidiary MOBC. Farrugia’s company, Power Plan, was one of four shortlisted companies. The adjudication company eventually selected  BB Energy, with which talks were started.

Taking the witness stand, Alfred Camilleri, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance said the privatisation process was still ongoing. The accused Ray Ferris had nothing to do with the opening of the tenders. He also denied having ever been pressured by Mr Ferris in any way.

Mario Mizzi, former CEO of Mimcol (the government's holding company) and a former member of the adjudicating committee, said he knew the accused as an official of Enemalta in 2008. He was present for meetings to facilitate the privatisation process and provided technical information from Enemalta when bidders asked for clarifications.

He denied that he was ever pressured by Mr Ferris in favour of a particular bid, Nor did he ever receive any gifts from him.

Victoria Wilson, who was an official of the Privatisation Unit, also denied having received gifts or been subjected to pressure. She said the unit had received a letter from a potential bidder, who in fact did not bid. They were told to open the letter at Noon on the day when the bids were due to be opened, but before the bids were opened.

They did as was instructed, and found that this was a threat of legal action.  The issue was taken to court, which issued a temporary warrant to stop the opening of the bids. Eventually the Privatisation Unit won the case and the bids were then opened some weeks later.