Rogue trader given Presidential Pardon

The rogue oil trader at the heart of the Enemalta oil bribery scandal was officially granted a Presidential Pardon yesterday after he agreed to a set of terms that include returning the proceeds of the corruption ring he was part of. President George Abela signed the pardon in the evening following a meeting in which 47-year-old George Farrugia accepted the terms of the agreement in a meeting with Attorney General Peter Grech and Police Commissioner John Rizzo. The pardon is only valid for crimes connected with the oil bribery case and is conditioned on the premise that Mr Farrugia gives the whole truth and only the truth in connection with the case both in court and in any other inquiry that could be held in connection with fuel procurement in the future. The pardon also demands that Mr Farrugia returns all illegal proceeds from the alleged corruption and that he makes an initial payment to this effect of €250,000 within five days. If it emerges that he made more profits from crimes related to the allegations on fuel procurement such money should be passed on to the Government. Should any of the conditions not be met, the pardon will be automatically withdrawn, as if it was never...