'Nothing on my conscience' - Gatt on Enemalta

Minister Austin Gatt broke his silence to reiterate his previous position that he has never met anyone "far less George Farrugia", to discuss Enemalta's oil-purchasing tenders.

Gatt was speaking during a press conference - which is still underway - where journalists are being provided with the opportunity to address their questions regarding the developing scandal directly to Gatt.

Gatt's opening statement is provided below in full. In it, he explains his silence over the past few days, and also reiterates his previous position of not having met with Farrugia regarding Enemalta's oil-purchasing tenders.

Gatt also urges the Labour Party to present any evidence they might have to support their claims, and says that if it does not do so "I must conclude that even in this case, they are interfering with the administration of justice."

FULL STATEMENT

"It is good to first explain why this press conference is being held now, and not earlier.

The Enemalta commissions story began on 20 January, and the next day, I issued a statement where I said that I had no problem with collaborating with police in their investigations, and answer to every question they might have.

I gave a statement to Police on 29 January and while I would have liked to publish it, the Police Commissioner asked me to keep what was said confidential, as well as the statement itself.

I tried to keep my word because I can understand the greater interest that the police investigation is not obstructed. Ideally this press conference would have been held after the police had closed the investigation, and issued their charges.

While 14 days have passed, and while would have liked to hold to what I had promised the Police Commissioner, I cannot allow the cruel and malicious insinuations made by the Labour Party, Super 1, and l-Orizzont, to go without being answered.

I am not ready to, for the sake of correctness, be rubbished on a daily basis by baseless insinuations.

That is why I am here to answer to all questions that you might have without limiting the number of questions that you have.

However I will nevertheless appeal so that the answers I deliver remain on a political level and I avoid replies that might prejudice the police investigation.

There are two basis statements I wish to make:

1. I never spoke with anyone - far less with George Farrugia - regarding tenders for oil-purchasing from Enemalta; in this regard it is relevant to note recall what I had said when MaltaToday had said that George Farrugia had met with me "in a bid to ensure the lucrative sale of oil to Enemalta". I had said:

"I categorically and without any reservation deny that anything of the sort ever happened or that any conversations that I ever had with anyone at all - let alone George Farrugia - ever even remotely touched on the subject. If Malta Today has even a shred of proof in this regard then I expect them to give it to the Commissioner of Police so he can investigate me."

Since that day, I repeated this statement four times, and to be the best of my knowledge nobody has approached the Police with anything.

2. I never had any suspicion that there would be something irregular in Enemalta's oil-purchasing because if I did, I would have gone straight to the Police Commissioner, as I have done in other cases.

I can obviously drag this out much more, but this is essence of all that is being alleged and implied in my regard.

If there is any concrete proof that someone has which proves I am lying, I am requesting for the fifth time that this be passed on to the Police Commissioner. In particular I am addressing the Labour Party exponents, otherwise I must conclude that even in this case, they are interfering with the administration of justice.

I have nothing on my conscience regarding this case, and I am serene that right will triumph."