Enemalta petroleum division head had requested commission, revealed bids

George Farrugia, the local agents of oil company Total told the police that Alfred Mallia, former head of Enemalta’s petroleum division, had requested commissions from him in the wake of an agreement between Total and Enemalta for oil storage in Malta. Police Inspector Angelo Gafa’, testifying in court during the compilation of evidence against Mr Mallia – who stands accused of corruption - said that Mr Farrugia had told the police how he had managed, in 1998, to secure the oil storage deal through Mr Mallia. Mr Farrugia, , who has been granted a presidential pardon for information on the case, told the police that he used to receive a commission of $0.16c per ton of oil stored at the Enemalta facility and he used to give part of it to Mr Mallia, paying him in cash or by cheque issued by Powerplan Ltd. Payments used to be made monthly but there was no agreed amount. He said that Mr Mallia had also received $10,000 after Enemalta needed to tap into the Total stores in Malta because industrial action prevented its tankers from mooring. During the talks before that sale, Mallia told Farrugia said he had to think of him 'and I am not alone'.   He didn't  know that he was referring...