Silvio Zammit’s best friend Mario Mercieca said in court today that at no point during lunch with Inge Delfoss, the secretary general of the European Smokeless Tobacco Lobby was former EU Commissioner John Dalli’s name mentioned.

Testifying in 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 Mercieca said that Gayle Kimberly or money were also not mentioned.

Mr Zammit was a canvasser of John Dalli, who was European Commissioner for Health at the time.

Mr Mercieca said he had known Mr Zammit for 49 years and used to work for him as a barman.

He testified that he and Mr Zammit went to Sweden on holiday in October 2011. During the holiday, someone called and invited Mr Zammit to Stockholm. He said they were picked up at the train station and taken to a restaurant by two women Inge and Rupini.

Mr Merciec a said they introduced themselves as Swedish Match and Estoc representatives and spoke about Snus. He said that, at the time, he did not understand what they were saying. The lunch lasted about an hour-and-a-half. He said that during this lunch he received calls and made others. He said that the women paid for lunch and the taxi and took them to the centre of town.

Mr Mercieca said the women gave Mr Zammit a present before they returned to the taxi. He presented to the court a photo he had taken showing Mr Zammit between the two women, next to a taxi.

Mr Mercieca said when asked that he knew Ms Kimerbly as he had seen her at Mr Zammit’s restaurant. She would be alone or with Iosif Galea.

The case continues.

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