Head of the Malta Security Services Michael Cassar today told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that he first suggested the idea of a pardon to oil trader George Farrugia during the final hours of the 48-hour arrest period.  

Mr Cassar made Mr Farrugia aware that a pardon was on the table after hearing then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi say he was willing to offer a presidential pardon to anyone who could shed light on the case.

At that point, Mr Cassar said that they did not have enough evidence to proceed against Mr Farrugia.

"Time was really pressing. He had admitted no wrongdoing, even when confronted with other peoples' testimonies. At that point we had nothing against George Farrugia.

"When I was speaking to George Farrugia during the finals hours if not minutes of the interrogation, I could tell from his body language that he knew something. I thought he could help in our investigations.

"I told him about the Prime Minister's offer of a pardon for those who could help  [in the case].I asked him if he was interested," Mr Cassar said.

"We had nothing on him.  I made it clear that we were not interested in information concerning Tancred Tabone and Frank Sammut, because we already had enough evidence against them to take them to court.

"The evidence we had against Tancred Tabone and Frank Sammut took us up to the year 2005," Mr Cassar continued.

George Farrugia

Another investigator working on the case, Angelo Gafa, was spoken to by Mr Farrugia's lawyer Franco Debono. Dr Debono told Mr Gafa that his client was interested in the pardon.

"The Police Commissioner then dealt with it from there on," Mr Cassar said. 

Mr Cassar said that two former ministers, Austin Gatt and Tonio Fenech were questioned by the police over the case.

He said the police wanted to clarify certain things said by Mr Farrugia with Dr Gatt.

Austin Gatt

In a “short interview,” Dr Gatt confirmed that he knew Mr Farrugia from Hamrun. Dr Gatt said he never spoke to Mr Farrugia about oil procurement or Trafigura.

Mr Cassar said he did not ask Dr Gatt about emails referring to ‘AG’ and ‘Aust.’

Tonio Fenech was also questioned with Mr Farrugia in the room, and corroborated what Mr Farrugia had told the police. 

Tonio Fenech

Mr Cassar confirmed that the police had wanted to arraign four of Farrugia's brothers as well as Trafigura representative Tim Waters.

Questioned why they have not been taken to court yet, Mr Cassar said he is no longer involved in the investigation. He said he did not give any handover in the case as one of the original investigating officers, Paul Vassallo, is still on it.

The other officer, Angelo Gafa, is now a member of the Security Services.

Information on Tarcisio Mifsud and Alfred Mallia's involvement was given by Mr Farrugia after he received the presidential pardon.

Asked whether the police had somehow verified Mr Farrugia's version of events, Mr Cassar replied that Mr Farrugia was aware that the pardon would be revoked if he was caught lying.