The court case on the George Farrugia oil trading scandal which commenced last February will have to start from scratch after the five defendants insisted that witnesses who had testified before another magistrate would have to be heard anew.

The five are the brothers of George Farrugia, who stand charged with complicity in the bribery of state officials to secure oil contracts from Enemalta.

Antonio Farrugia, 68, Gaetano Farrugia, 65, Raymond Farrugia, 62, Emmanuel Farrugia, 59, and Salvatore Farrugia, 60, are pleading not guilty. It is alleged that they were aware that their brother, George, had bribed state officials to secure oil contracts from Enemalta for Powerplan Ltd, the family business he once managed.

The compilation of evidence reached an advanced stage but stalled when the presiding magistrate, Miriam Hayman, was promoted to judge. Her cases were all reassigned to other magistrates.

When a new magistrate takes over a case, the prosecutor and the defence lawyers are asked whether they agree to exempt the new magistrate from having to hear all the witnesses again.

But when Magistrate Neville Camilleri asked the question yesterday, he received the all-clear from the prosecution but not from the defence, with lawyer David Farrugia Sacco saying he was not granting the exemption.

Until then the court had heard the extensive testimony of the defendants’ brother, George, prosecuting inspector Jonathan Ferris and former inspector Angelo Gafa, as well as representatives from Bank of Valletta, Transport Malta, Lombard Bank and the Malta Financial Services Authority.

Magistrate Camilleri requested that the defence give the reasons behind its refusal to grant the exemption.

In view of this development, the court ordered the prosecution to temporarily refrain from summoning further witnesses. The case continues on November 25.