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Update 2 | Cabinet approves presidential pardon for witness in Enemalta oil scandal [VIDEO]
Cabinet meeting discussing presidential pardon to whistleblower George Farrugia in Enemalta oil scandal.
8 February 2013, 12:00am
Miriam Dalli
Miriam Dalli
2 min read
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi convened an urgent Cabinet meeting tonight at 10pm, which approved a presidential pardon for a witness in the alleged award of commissions by commodities firm Trafigura for the sale of oil to Enemalta.
But while the Prime Minister refused to name the witness, the Department of Information, in an official statement confirmed that the witness is businessman George Farrugia.
In comments to the press, Gonzi said the meeting was convened to discuss a draft for a presidential pardon for a witness in the Enemalta oil scandal, who will turn State's witness and shed light on the allegations of kickbacks to a former Enemalta and MOBC consultant.
"This pardon will be subject to the condition that the whistleblower tells a court of law nothing but the truth... we are discussing the pardon now to see whether it will be forwarded to the President."
At 11:10pm, Police Commissioner John Rizzo left Castille, but did not give any comments to the press. Also present for the meeting was Attorney General Peter Grech.
George Farrugia, the local agent for commodities firm Trafigura, which is alleged to have paid 'commissions' to a former MOBC chief executive for the supply of oil to state utility Enemalta, has asked for a presidential pardon in a bid to turn State's witness and testify in a court of law on the allegations first reported by MaltaToday.
Former Enemalta consultant and MOBC chief executive Frank Sammut is believed to have been the recipient of kickbacks from Trafigura for the supply of oil to Enemalta, back in 2004.
Former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone, who appointed Sammut as a consultant after his role as CEO of the MOBC was terminated, has also been called in for questioning by the police on the same investigation. Tabone today handed in his resignation as president of the Chamber of Commerce.
Tabone is a director and shareholder in Island Bunker Oils Ltd, a company that took over storage capacity from the MOBC and is connected to investigations being conducted by the police.
Miriam Dalli joined MaltaToday.com.mt in 2010 becoming assistant editor f...
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No wonder the government is being so reluctant regarding the whistleblower's act. Only God Almighty knows how many government official, not mentioning ministers are involved in this scandal. Pardon or no pardon the money taken illicitly should be paid back and the companies involved black listed. We're fed up of this intitutionionalised rubbish.
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PROSIT SKALDA IMMA NAHSEB BHALL TAL-VAT GEJJA....XABA ZGHIRA FUQ IL-PATATA.
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U KEMM SER IDUM DAN IL KAZ?
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When details will be scrutinized and published, the people will know, that once again Malta is on the loser side. GonziPN is again deceiving the people.
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WHAT A DISGRACE DONT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THIS, WITH THIS PARDON EVEN AUSTIN GATT GETS AWAY WITH IT, WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK THAT FARRUGA IS GOING TO TALK!! WHAT A JOKE WHAT A RIDICULAS PRESIDANT AND PRIME MINISTER. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GUILTY IN THIS.SO MR PRESIDENT WERE DOES THE LAW LEAVE US, CAN I ROB A BANK OF 1000 EUROS AND THAN GIVE ME A PARDON OR TROW ME IN PRISON FOR TEN YEARS, WHEN SOMEONE WHO IS BELIEVED TO HAVE STOLEN MILLIONS HAHAHA GETS AWAY FREE TO TELL EVERYONE 'JIEN IL BULLY'THESE CRIMES MUST BE ADDRESSED IN THE EU PARLIAMENT THERE ARE TOO MANY POLITICIONS GETTING AWAY WITH CRIMES, AND THE NOBODY BEING PUT IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF THERE LIVES, i BELIEVED IN THIS PRESIDENT ONCE BUT NOT ANYMORE AS NOW I BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER HE DOES IS CONTROLLED BY THE PRIME MINISTER.
AVIVA MALTA
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Issa li nghatat il-mahfra nispera li meta jitressqu xi nies il-qorti u tibda il-kumpilazzjoni,nistenna li meta nisimghu ix-xhieda, din tkun bil-miftuh u nispera wkoll li ix-xhieda ta' min ser jiehu il-mahfra tkun l-istess xhieda li torbot il-kaz. F'kelma ohra qieghed nispera li nghatat il-mahfra ghax il-pulizija bil-provi li ghandha f'idejha sa issa ma wasslux biex jitressqu nies il-qorti. Jekk il-pulizija ghandha bizzejjed provi,- ma hemmx bzonn mahfra. U jekk il-pulizija ghandha provi bizzejjed nispera li kemm il-Pulizija kif ukoll l-Attorney General ma tawx parir lil PM ghal mahfra. Jekk hemmm provi ma hemmx bzonn mahfra ghax jekk il-kwistjoni hija kontra, allura nkunu .........................!! Inhalli ghal min qed jaqra u jifhem x'irrid nghid !
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I hope (like i guess all other taxpayers) that all money that was ripped off the country is returned back TOGETHER with interest that this has accumulated during all these years. This is the most important thing to the country. Hopefully all those involved will be named + banned from ever dealing directly or indirectly with any government entities in the future. If the money cannot be returned, the frozen assets might be sold to make up for the losses. This scandal is a certificate of incompetence of the current administration. Since only 1 month left till the election, i hope that if PL is elected Dr.Muscat or any of the deputies will be taking care of this mess directly and exposing this daylight robbery with all details.
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Isir x'isir bil-mahfra presidenzjali Gonzipn ser jibqa' responsabbli li rnexxilu jbellaha lil kulhadd li z-zejt gholi minn barra. Donnu jrid inessi li l-poplu sar jaf l-ewwel b'commission ta' 1%. fit-2004 ta' 10% u negozjat 15% ghat 2005. Aktar il-quddiem hadd ghadu ma jaf. Waqt li l-industrija msallba Gonzi jkompli jzoqqha biex tistejqer. U l-poplu jaqlahha doppja. FUQ DAN KOLLU SER NIGGUDIKAW LIL GONZI BL-AKBAR SKANDLU LI QATT SMAJNA
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Allura kull kaz li inqala ta korruzzjoni kellha tkun il-media biex tikxu. Nghid jien il-ministri qatt ma semghu b'xejn hazin fil-ministeri taghhom? Xi haga hazina hemm. Dan minn taht imniehirhom qed johrog tal-hmieg kollu. Possibli qatt ma ndenjaw ruhhom li jinvestigaw xi haga minn jgheddhom? Jew......???!!!
Luke Camilleri •
What "qualities" qualify a "Presidential Pardon"?
Irrid ikun "WICC" Nazzjonalist biex jiehu MAHFRA PRESIDENZJALI... bi kwalitajiet tajbin u anqas tajbin??????
http://www.reocities.com/CapitolHill/Congress/2565/friends/friends.html
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This is a perfect example how criminal get off without being punished and even worse still cover up for their friends with a presidential pardon there goes our jystice down the drain once again thanks to our prime minister just who knows how many persons are hiding undef this pardon is the big question?
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If this "grass" fails to disclose any information which is not already known, is it safe to assume that the presidential pardon (aka getting off Scot free) will be rescinded.
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This is a perfect example how criminal get off without being punished and even worse still cover up for their friends with a presidential pardon there goes our jystice down the drain once again thanks to our prime minister just who knows how many persons are hiding undef this pardon is the big question?
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let us hope that the presidential pardon is not subject to a cover up of any minister their relatives
off the records
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Johrog x'johrog, proklami u x naf jien, nerga nsaqsi, allur issa min ha ha? U ha jerga jrodd il-flus li thalsu mil-poplu Malti f'kontijiet tad-dawl m'ghola s-sema?
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How very ethical! So he who is at the centre is willing to turn state evidence against his partners in crime (if crime there has been). Is there really need for such evidence? I believe the investigators have said that they have enough evidence to go by, or granting this pardon will allow the really guilty ones to cover their tracks while giving us, the taxpayer, a comfortable scapegoat(s). What will happen to the funds that have been handed out and will this person (gentleman is way too generous) be liable to prosecution for other infringements (e.g. tax evasion, money laundering) in conjunction with this crime. Will total light be shed on the money trail? Dear Joseph here is a tray being prepared for your taking, please enjoy!!
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Ghid grazzi talli ghandna Prim Ministru li mexxa team li gab 1.12 biljun ghalik, il-famlja tieghek, uliedek u ulied uliedek. Dan skandlu li jmissna kolla nitkesku minnu- mhuwiex skandlu politiku - huwa skandlu nazzjonali. Poggu l-affarijiet f'perspettiva flok toqghodu temmnu il-lelixx tas-Super One. Uzaw mohhkom!
Luke Camilleri •
Anzi ma marx taht il-Pont ta' San Giljan biex jiddeciedi fuq il-mahfriet Presidenzjali kif ghamel ta' qablu!
Luke Camilleri •
Nispera li mhux sejjer iqassmilhom minn dak li gab !
Li gab ghal poplu Malti u mhallas biex igibhom u mhux biex jispalpalja fuq il-Ministri bit talent limitat li ghandhu!
