‘Attacking state witness is tantamount to obstructing justice’ – Muscat

Labour leader Joseph Muscat has questioned attacks being levelled against oil-trader turned State witness George Farrugia in the wake of revelations of lobbying in oil-purchasing which, Labour is insisting, also led to gifts to politicians.

Labour's most notable claim in this regard is that Finance Minister Tonio Fenech himself received a hanging clock as a gift from Farrugia worth in the region of €5,000.

Muscat remarked that both Fenech and the Nationalist Party seem to be sending out a message whereby Farrugia should stop revealing information that implicates the political class.

"Let us have no more attacks on a person who has turned state witness," Muscat said, adding that "the message seems to be that he should not talk about politicians, or he will be attacked further."

Muscat insisted that the state witness should be given the freedom to deliver his version of events - irrespective of whom it might involve - with "serenity" and "freedom".

"Given that a pardon has been issued, he should be given the freedom to say what he has to say without facing intimidation. We want the whole truth to come out."

"Attacking a state witness amounts to obstructing justice," added said, again calling for Farrugia to be granted "the freedom to say what he has to say."

During his statement, which was broadcast live on ONE TV, Muscat also called into question Fenech's highly publicised history of questionable involvement and proximity with the business class, pointing to Maltatoday's own reports which revealed that JPM brothers had carried out works-for-favours at his private residence in 2010.

"This accusation is no different from the other accusations that Fenech faced in his history. He has zero credibility in this matter."

"There could be other persons who also received more presents. And yet, this minister who has al this history is denying this."

Muscat also said that Fenech "seems to be sending out the message that other politicians should not be mentioned because who knows what would happen," adding that it is specifically this question that the pubic is asking.

"We are obliged to share this information with the public," Muscat said, defending Labour's claims. "But in doing so, we will remain positive in our message because we are not trying to make implications or throw mud. We are talking about facts."

He accused the Nationalist Party and Fenech of attempting to implicate former PL candidate Joe Cordina in the ongoing Enemalta corruption scandal "because he knew that this information about him would emerge and he tried to divert the focus."

Again, Muscat reiterated Labour's defence that Cordina was only part of a fiduciary company that had no direct involvement in Aikon Limited, which is currently the focus of an investigation.

Muscat noted that a "strong" statement has since been issued by the people involved in the fiduciary company, and added that "out of correctness," Cordina said he did not wish for the Labour Party to be tainted by the issue and would withdraw his candidature.

Here, Muscat accused Fenech to attempting to discredit the financial services industry by making certain assertions regarding the responsibilities that fiduciary companies should have.

"If he is trying to implicate all those who work in fiduciary companies with certain responsibilities and implications, then he is doing a disservice to the financial services sector."

Muscat said that there are "hundreds" of accountants and other operators who work in such fiduciary companies. "Through such implications, the finance minister is attacking them in a direct manner."

Muscat also said that by the PN's same yardstick, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's son, David Gonzi, who was company secretary of Sib Laboratories which was involved in the Maugeri incident, was also involved in the €15 million money laundering scandal that has rocked Italian politics.

"I am not saying that Gonzi's son is implicated. I accept his version of facts. But if Fenech is saying that Cordina was implicated, then he is also saying that Gonzi's son was implicated in a case of corruption," Muscat said,

Muscat also added that Labour is "expecting that political responsibility will be shouldered" for what has been revealed.