Man whom oil trader accused of bribery claims George Farrugia committed perjury

Former chairman of the John's Group executive board Tony Debono has filed a judicial protect against oil trader George Farrugia accusing him of potentially breaching condition of his presidential pardon.

Debono, a former ambassador, also accused Farrugia of committing perjury when he told the court that Debono had blackmailed him.

In the judicial protest signed by lawyer Robert Montalto, Debono also called on the Prime Minister, on the justice junior minister and the Police Commissioner to look into the matter, and if necessary, take required action.

In his testimony in the compilation of evidence against former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone, accused of bribery and money laundering, Farrugia accused Debono of having "sworn to destroy me and my business".

Farrugia was at first reticent at naming the "high government official", but on insistence of his own lawyer Sigfried Borg Cole and the court, the witness named Debono, who was then a consultant for family business John's Group.

"He demanded a commission on every deal I concluded but I never gave him anything. I'm scared of him as he belongs to a 'gathering' I will not name," Farrugia told the court.

Farrugia accused Debono of having destroyed his name and image, run his business to the ground, and even broke up his relations with his brothers. "I managed to save my family only because my wife did not take heed of those people whom Debono had told to call her and feed her lies about me."