Mr Speaker Anglu Farrugia in a ruling this evening said that former Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone must testify before the Public Accounts Committee, which is investigating oil procurement procedures,  but may opt not to answer questions which may incriminate him.

Mr Tabone, through his lawyers, had asked not to testify in the proceedings of the committee.

He has been charged in court over alleged bribery in oil procurement contracts.

The committee meets on Wednesday.

Mr Tabone had been summoned to appear before the committee in December. At the time he also refused to answer questions.

He had served as chairman of Enemalta and its offshore bunkering arm and was also secretly a director of a rival oil bunkering company, according to testimony given so far.

George Farrugia, local agent of giant oil supplier Total had told a court that he was blackmailed by Mr Tabone into giving him commissions on oil procurement and storage contracts.

He said Mr Tabone had told him to either pay up, or contracts would be given to another company. The commissions were shared between Mr Tabone and his consultant Frank Sammut.

Mr Tabone denies the claims.

Mr Farrugia had been given a presidential pardon on condition that he revealed all about the scandal.