The former secretary of Enemalta subsidiary MOBC said in court today that it was MOBC which used to pay commissions to local agents when oil procurement was made from Total and Elf Trading.
Hugh Attard Montalto, now retired, was giving evidence in the compilation of evidence against former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone, who stands accused of corruption and trading in influence.
Attard-Montalto said commissions were not paid when oil was brought from other sources. The invoices were cited as being ‘consultancy fees’ but he did not know what the consultancy was about.
The commissions used to be paid to Power Plan Ltd (the company owned by George Farrugia, who has been given a presiential pardon for information on the case). The company later changed its hands to MO Services.
He said he knew these commissions were related to oil procurement. He said decisions on purchases from Total used to be taken by CEO Frank Sammut (who is accused in separate proceedings). 18 contracts were awarded between October 2000 and May 2004.