Mallia: put PBO in prison

Labour candidate Manuel Mallia yesterday said he would be seeking a sentence of imprisonment for Nationalist Party general secretary after instructing police to take criminal action against Paul Borg Olivier for libel. The action concerns an article on the PN media website maltarightnow.com, titled ‘Three Labour candidates involved in oil scandal’, which repeated claims made by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech in a press conference on Friday that Dr Mallia was “involved” in the ongoing oil buying scandal. Dr Mallia categorically denied any form of involvement, calling Dr Fenech’s allegations “obscene” and saying he would be “seeking imprisonment” in the course of the criminal case. Speaking during a press conference alongside fellow PL candidate David Farrugia Sacco – who said he would also be taking legal action against Dr Borg Olivier – Dr Mallia insisted he had only found out about illegal commission paid for oil purchases through the media. Mr Fenech linked both him and Dr Farrugia Sacco to the scandal, noting how both men had represented the Farrugia brothers in the past and hinting they might be indirect sources of leaks to the press. But Dr Mallia yesterday said the minister...