OLAF prosecutor Giovanni Kessler repeatedly called Silvio Zammit a liar when he questioned him in Malta in July last year, a court was told today.

A description of the questioning made by the director of the EU's anti-fraud agency was given in court during the continuation of the case against Mr Zammit, who stands accused of trading in influence by having allegedly sought a bribe to bring about changes in the EU's Tobacco Directive. Mr Zammit was a canvasser of John Dalli, who was European Commissioner for Health at the time.

Defence lawyer Edward Gatt asked a series of questions to Mario Debono, a former official at the Internal Audit and Investigations Department about his involvement in the OLAF investigation.

Mr Debono said he was present for the interrogations, as was his superior, Rita Schembri.

He said that Mr Kessler arrived on July 4, 2012 and went to Mr Zammit's restaurant, Peppi's kiosk in Sliema. He interviewed him that afternoon.

Dr Gatt asked if Mr Zammit was repeatedly called 'a liar', which Mr Debono confirmed.

Mr Debono said Mr Zammit was very cooperative while Mr Kessler had been 'pompous'.

Mr Zammit was also interviewed the following day in Valletta.

Dr Gatt asked Mr Debono if he could recall that Mr Zammit had tried to leave the room as his blood sugar levels were dropping because of his diabetes. He was physically stopped by Mr Kessler, and it was Ms Schembri who then intervened to calm the two men down.

Mr Debono said he could not remember the details, but he could remember that there was an argument.

When the same question was put to Rita Schembri she said she could not remember. She said it was possible that Mr Kessler called Mr Zammit a liar.

She also recalled that Mr Kessler said he had the recording of a phone call, but when Mr Zammit asked him to play it, he did not, and the questioning continued.