In a grilling during a Public Account Committee (PAC) meeting where barely any answers were provided, Paul Apap Bologna, a former Electrogas director, remained mum when asked whether “he plays table tennis” with former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Minister for Justice Edward Zammit Lewis.

The PAC meeting continued to examine the Auditor General's report entitled “An Investigation of Matters Relating to the Contracts awarded to ElectroGas Malta Ltd. by Enemalta Corporation".

Last week, Apap Bologna said that it is “not true at all” that the Project Services Agreement signed between Enemalta stakeholders, notably his GEM Holdings Limited and Yorgen Fenech’s New Energy Supply Limited, was a simulation tactic to cover something up.

The secretary of the Committee informed the members that the companies GEM Holdings and SOCAR, which are shareholders of Electrogas, failed to send the requested information.

Electrogas should answer an email sent on 17 June to send the minutes to the PAC, and not the companies singularly involved, Karol Aquilina, a Nationalist MP, said. He said that they should also have the minutes of EGM Holdings Ltd. and GEM Holding Limited. and that they should give them a deadline until next Monday.

“Electrogas is a Maltese company”, Aquilina argued, and that the PAC is the authority in this situation.

On the other hand, witness Paul Apap Bologna sent the requested information today and so members did not have a chance to go over the documents sent, PN MP Beppe Fenech Adami said.

Apap Bologna’s lawyer said that he received the information yesterday, and that is why it is was sent today.

“You have a table tennis at home… You invite Joseph Muscat and Edward Zammit Lewis to your home don’t you?” Aquilina asked Apap Bologna at one point.

The session was here interrupted by PL MPs asking what this has to do with the report.

“Is it true that you are so close with Joseph Muscat and Edward Zammit Lewis that you invite them to play table tennis?” Aquilina asked again. However, Apap Bologna said that he is “invoking his right to silence”, as he did for most questions asked today.

Apap Bologna’s lawyer, Giannella De Marco, said that following the "accusations and insinuations" levelled at her and her client in previous meetings, she had advised her client to exercise his right to silence.

Fenech Adami stated that the statement made was “subjective” and said that the witness can only invoke the right to silence only if he could incriminate himself or related to questions relating to subjects under judicial proceedings.

Labour MP Glenn Bedingfield said that government members will not object because the Speaker of the House had already ruled that the PAC chair was responsible for proceedings. 

From her part, De Marco said Apap Bologna has a right to refuse to reply if the questions are "incriminating or tending to expose him", adding that the line of questioning by Opposition MPs were intended to expose her client. 

Bedingfield said that the PN members are harassing the witness and “already making their own conclusions”. PN MP Ryan Callus said that it is “unbelievable” that PL members are “defending the witness”. He also said that it is “unacceptable” that the witness, through his lawyer, is simply deciding not to answer any questions.

“Due to the insinuations and accusations that have been made, I will invoke my right to silence,” Apap Bologna said.

Asked a number of questions regarding any contact he had with Socar and whether he had any contact with them directly, whether it was before the election, whether he had made contact with the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev or his officials, or whether he was aware that Aliyev was controlling Socar, the witness simply said that he will be invoking his right to silence.

“Is there a logical and valid reason you chose the most corrupt government in the world?” Fenech Adami asked about his decision to choose an Azerbaijani led company. Apap Bologna did not answer once again.

Fenech Adami remarked that Maltese citizens are paying for the profit being made by Socar. In 2017, Socar bought €113 million worth of gas from Shell, while Electrogas paid €153 million for it, and therefore, Socar earned €40 million, Fenech Adami said. “I invoke my right to silence,” Apap Bologna said after being asked if these numbers are true.

Asked if Electrogas discussed this at board level, Apap Bologna also remained silent.

“They charged Enemalta €153 million, which means that the people paid it”, Fenech Adami said.

“Do you know that Socar has absolutely no expertise in buying gas?” He questioned. “You don’t feel the need to explain why the Maltese population, in 2015, paid €40 million extra for gas?” Apap Bologna, once again, invoked his right to silence.

Beppe Fenech Adami said that this was taken from a report by The Guardian.

Fenech Adami told Apap Bologna to prove him wrong rather than invoke the right to silence.

“I think you should ask the right people,” Apap Bologna said.

“Those €40 million… you put them on the Maltese population. For some reason, you took Socar, put it as an intermediary, and they received €40 million. Now you have the opportunity to explain to the Maltese people…people will arrive to the conclusions,” Fenech Adami said.

“I think you should ask the right person,” Apap Bologna replied.

“Who is he?” Fenech Adami questioned.

“I have no idea,” Apap Bologna replied.

 “You have the opportunity to explain … what do you answer?” Fenech Adami once again asked.

“I’m invoking my right to silence,” Apap Bologna replied.

Karol Aquilina then proceeded with his questions. “What is your relationship with Joseph Muscat?” he questioned.

De Marco intervened, saying that these questions have nothing to do with the report.

PL Whip Bedingfield also intervened saying that such questions have nothing to do with it.

Once again, Fenech Adami took the reins of the questioning. “Out of so many companies in the world, out of so many countries?” why these, asked Fenech Adami.

“He has already replied that he was not involved in the negotiations,” replied de Marco.

“I was introduced to Socar… by Gasol,” Apap Bologna said.

“You did not bring them in, but you let them in… it doesn’t make any sense!” Fenech Adami said.