Chamber of Advocates should investigate professional secrecy claims – AD

The Green Party has demanded an investigation into claims that home affairs minister Manuel Mallia was aware of bribery allegations into the sale of fuel to Enemalta.

Mallia was a lawyer for Powerplan Ltd when he was contracted to seek a court settlement on behalf of its shareholders, the Farrugia family, from George Farrugia.

Farrugia was then accused by his brothers of siphoning oil commissions from commodities Trafigura and TOTSA, into his private company Aikon Ltd.

Now State's evidence after being granted a presidential pardon, Farrugia has told a parliamentary public accounts committee that Mallia was aware that he was paying Enemalta officials "commissions" for the supply of oil to the energy corporation.

"In view of George Farrugia's revelations in the PAC, Mallia's behaviour should be investigated by the Chamber of Advocates, Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Arnold Cassola said. "Whilst Dr Mallia is correct in saying that - as a lawyer - he is bound by professional secrecy, he certainly went beyond professional ethics when he threatened Farrugia that he would reveal his misdemeanour unless he made it up with his brothers. Blackmailing others is not included in professional ethics."

The Nationalist Party has accused home Mallia of "lying" about his knowledge of bribes paid by George Farrugia to Enemalta officials.

In 2010, Mallia was appointed by board resolution as a lawyer for Powerplan, a subsidiary of the Farrugia family company John's Group, to seek a settlement with George Farrugia. Mallia said that any confidential knowledge he might have had of the bribes was protected by professional secrecy.

During the 2013 elections, Mallia told the press he unaware of these bribes before MaltaToday broke the story in January. The PN has now accused Mallia of invoking his professional secrecy. "Farrugia has confirmed that in 2010 Mallia was already aware of the corruption in the procurement of fuel and that Mallia had threatened him to report the allegations to the police in a bid to reach a settlement for the John's Group. Mallia and Joseph Muscat must now shoulder their responsibility," the PN said.