Alfred Mallia, 68 of Qormi, a former Enemalta petroleum division manager and former member of the oil procurement committee, and a former financial controller of the corporation, Tarcisio Mifsud, 68 of Zebbug, were arraigned today in front of Magistrate Miriam Hayman, charged with crimes committed in the execution of their duties. Their case relates to the oil procurement scandal.
They are both pleading not guilty.
Their arraignment raises to six the number of persons accused in the situation so far. The other four are Tancred Tabone, a former Enemalta chairman, and his consultant Frank Sammut, and two businessmen who are charged with corrupting these two, Tony Cassar and Francis Portelli.
A request by the prosecution for the freezing of the assets of the two arraigned yesterday, Mallia and Mifsud, was accepted. Bail was granted on a deposit of €5,000 and a personal guarantee of €30,000. They also have to sign in at their police station.
Their offences are claimed to have been committed in the years up to 2004. Their request for bail was opposed by the prosecution, particularly for Tarcisio Mifsud who, the prosecution said, had threatened co-accused Mallia, and the man who has been granted a presidential pardon in the case, George Farrugia.
Their charges are corruption, bribery and accepting commissions from Total, in their capacity of public officials. Mallia, the prosecution said, had cooperated with the police in questioning at the police depot, but Tarcisio Mifsud had not.
Inspector Angelo Gafa opposed bail for Mallia - who was a mayor of Qormi as an independent candidate in the early years of local councils - but pointed out there was no money laundering involved. In opposing bail, the prosecution said this was a serious case but pointed out to the court the age of the accused and his state of health. If bail were to be granted, however, conditions should reflect the seriousness of the case.
Tarcisio Mifsud, who addressed the Labour Party congress last September on energy issues, faces the same charges. Inspector Gafa strongly opposed bail saying Mifsud had threatened two witnesses and told them he would sue them. Mifsud had described Mallia as “too good”.
Dr Stefano Filletti, Dr Edward Gatt and Dr Anna Mallia represented Tarcisio Mifsud, Dr Kris Balzan appeared for Alfred Mallia.