Former Enemalta consultant Frank Sammut has initiated proceedings before the Civil Court to insist on his right to remain silent before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee.

His lawyer Dr Joe Giglio presented a copy of the application to the committee this evening and said that at this stage it would be prudent to await the directions of the court.

The committee is currently discussing oil procurement procedures followed by Enemalta.

The court application was made against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anglu Farrugia and committee chairman Jason Azzopardi after the Speaker last month delivered a ruling saying that both Mr Sammut and (former Enemalta chairman) Tancred Tabone, who are both facing court proceedings on the oil procurement scandal should appear before the committee but may opt not to reply to questions which incriminated them, in which case, the Speaker said, such questions should be referred to him.

Dr Giglio said the right to remain silent was a right linked to the requirements of a fair trial as laid down in the Constitution. 

The Speaker, he said, was not empowered to decide what questions a witness should reply to.

The committee adjourned to consider the situation.