Officials deny receiving gifts during Enemalta petroleum division privatisation process

Officials of the Privatisation Unit and the committee which adjudicated bids for the privatisation of Enemalta’s petroleum division this morning denied in court that they were ever pressured or received gifts from Ray Ferris, the liaison officer between Enemalta and the committee. Mr Ferris is accused of bribery in connection with the oil procurement scandal. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130307/local/-Enemalta-officer-wanted-cash-to-influence-tenders-.460570#.Ut5eEX94WSM Inspector Angelo Gafa had  told a court in March last year that Ferris had received gifts from oil trader Goerge Farrugia who was  bidding to run the petroleum division of Enemalta and the corporation’s subsidiary MOBC. Farrugia’s company, Power Plan, was one of four shortlisted companies. The adjudication company eventually selected  BB Energy, with which talks were started. Taking the witness stand, Alfred Camilleri, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance said the privatisation process was still ongoing. The accused Ray Ferris had nothing to do with the opening of the tenders. He also denied having ever been pressured by Mr Ferris in any way. Mario Mizzi, former CEO of Mimcol (the...