The clock given as a gift to Former Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had been paid for by Powerplan Ltd and had cost Lm500 (€1,200), not €5,000 a court heard today.

Testifying in the case instituted by Mr Fenech against ministers Chris Cardona and Evarist Bartolo, George Farrugia, who is embroiled in the oil procurement commissions scandal and then Powerplan CEO, said he knew Mr Fenech and had met him once.

The clock had been made by his sister-in-law who was at the time learning the craft.

Mr Bartolo and Dr Cardona had claimed that the clock was worth €5,000.

Ines Farrugia, who made the clock, said she had met Mr Fenech once and he had shown an interest in her work and her husband suggested that she should give him a clock.

She valued the gift at between Lm400 and Lm500.

Testifying, former police commissioner John Rizzo said the police had not taken action because it was clear that the clock had been given to Mr Fenech as a gift.