Updated: Oil tenders - Gonzi stands by Austin Gatt's statement

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi reiterated this morning that he stood by Transport Minister Austin Gatt's statement that he never met George Farrugia or anyone to discuss oil or other tenders. “I accept his statement,” he said adding that his government  used the strongest legal tool available to expose corruption  – the Presidential pardon. This was done on the advice of the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner. “This decision clearly shows we are determined  to fight corruption, no matter who the person or people concerned are,” he said. He was replying to journalists' questions during a visit to Merit Precision Tools factory at the Xewkija industrial estate in Gozo. Later, during the programme Qalb il-Familja, that was aired from Mgarr Dr Gonzi reacted to a statement by Dr Muscat that endorsing Austin Gatt’s version of his meeting with oil trader George Farrugia, he had become become directly responsible for this case. He said he was surprised by Dr Muscat’s superficiality and that the crucial point was that government used the Presidential pardon to expose corruption. “At this point we have to give space to the Police Commissioner to investigate without any political...