Lawyers continued to insist before the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee this evening that Tancred Tabone, Frank Sammut and others summoned in court in connection with the oil procurement scandal had a right to remain silent and could not give evidence before the committee.

One of the accused, Frank Sammut, last month filed a Constitutional case insisting on his right to remain silent and therefore, not to appear before the committee.

The committee agreed to await the outcome of the court case.

Lawyer Giannella De Marco (representing Tancred Tabone, former Enemalta chairman) told the committee this evening that her client was pleading not guilty to the same things being discussed by the committee and was also insisting on his right to remain silent. She said that according to Erskine May, not even a witness in a pending criminal case should be called to testify before a parliamentary committee.

Asked whether Mr Tabone's legal team was planning to file a Constitutional case, Dr De Marco said she was aware of the case filed by Frank Sammut.

When the committee called on Anthony Cassar to appear, Lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell said Mr Cassar (a business partner in Island Bunker Oils) would not like to testify before the committee because it may impinge on his defence in court.

Dr Tonna Lowell said the charges brought against his client in court had nothing to do with oil procurement. When asked why his client was refusing to testify, he said that the right to remain silent was sacrosanct independently of the charges.

(Mr Cassar has been accused of bribery, being an accomplice in a crime committed by a public official and money laundering.)

Dr Tonna Lowell pointed out that Frank Sammut, one of the accused, had instituted a Constitutional case insisting on his right to remain silent. The committee had decided to put off his testimony until the Constitutional Court took its decision.

Dr Tonna Lowell said that rather than presenting another Constitutional case, one should await the decision of the Constitutional Court. He too quoted Erskine May where it referred to witnesses. 

The committee was adjourned for internal deliberations by the members.