Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi stood by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech this afternoon, when asked to comment on allegations that the minister received a gift from George Farrugia, who was granted a presidential pardon over the oil procurement scandal.

Dr Gonzi was visiting extension works at the Malta Freeport when he was asked to comment on the matter.

He noted that this morning, Mr Fenech went to the police commissioner to make his position clear, and said that the minister would be issuing a statement over the matter. He also pointed out that the minister would be making a criminal complaint against the ones who alleged he received a clock worth over €5,000: MPs Evarist Bartolo and Chris Cardona and Labour’s communications director Kurt Farrugia.

Dr Gonzi said that the crucial revelation made yesterday was that Labour’s financial administrator Joe Cordina was directly linked to Mr Farrugia’s trading company Aikon Ltd.

He insisted that Labour should explain itself, pointing out that the revelation concerning Mr Cordina arrived at a time where serious allegations were raised on how the party was able to finance itself.

The prime minister also said that Labour leader Joseph Muscat reached the lowest level possible by trying to implicate members of his family. This morning, Dr Muscat said that Mr Cordina’s involvement was equivalent to Dr Gonzi’s son David’s involvement in Maugeri, an Italian firm which is facing corruption allegations.

“This is something that disgusts me completely,” the prime minister said.