Enemalta oil probe suspect convicted on appeal for Freeport corruption

The Court of Criminal Appeal presided by Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano rejected an appeal filed by Anthony Cassar, chairman of Cassar Shipyards, who was found guilty of corrupting a CMA-CGM Malta official.

Cassar, who is currently under investigation together with other people for his role as a director of Island Bunkers Limited in the Enemalta oil procurement scandal, appealed a guilty judgement handed to him by the Magistrates Court in 2011.

Prosecuting Inspector Angelo Gafà from the Economic Crimes Unit had charged Cassar with bribing Ronald Galea, then CMA-CGM operations manager at the Malta Freeport, by paying him a 5% 'gratuity' or commission on invoices issued for repairs on CMA-CGM Agencies Worldwide container carriers which needed repairs when calling at the Freeport.

Galea had used his influence to have the ships repaired by Cassar Shipyards, finding that Anthony Cassar had "no problem" paying for Galea's services.

Cassar had admitted to having paid a total of Lm7,870 to Galea by various cheques, and used the money to buy a yacht for himself from Sun Dream Company.

Moreover, Galea was the beneficiary of a private interest-free loan to the tune of Lm20,000 from Anthony Cassar.

Galea, who was subsequently sacked from his job at the Malta Freeport, had admitted to the charges and sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for four years.

Cassar appealed his judgement on the basis that he was not a public official, and should there have been any guilt, it was Galea who breached his duties.

The Appeals Court pointed out that Cassar had confirmed on oath that he had paid 'gratuities' to Galea, when it was widely known that he represented CMA-CGM.

Cassar Ship repair managing director Anthony Cassar has also been questioned by police in the Enemalta oil procurement investigation, together with Francis Portelli, of Virtu Ferries, and former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone - all three director-shareholders of Island Bunker Oils Ltd - and Frank Sammut, who worked as a consultant for the firm.