The tal-lira clock given to former Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had been paid for by Powerplan Ltd and had cost some Lm500, a court heard today.

Tonio Fenech

Testifying in the case instituted by Mr Fenech against ministers Chris Cardona and Evarist Bartolo, George Farrugia, who is at the heart of the oil procurement commissions scandal and then Powerplan CEO, said he knew the former minister through the political scene and had met him once.

The clock, he said, had been made by his sister-in-law who was at the time learning the craft.

Mr Fenech had lodged a criminal complaint about a press conference given by Mr Bartolo and Dr Cardona on February 21 during which it had been claimed  that he had been given €5,000. This later turned out to be the clock. The allegation was repeated a number of times.

Former Police Commissioner John Rizzo told the court that Mr Fenech had called him and said he wanted to speak to him. This was at the time when he was investigating the oil procurement scandal.

Mr Rizzo said he asked the minister to go to his office and they discussed the allegations. The former minister explained the circumstances in which he had been given the clock.

Mr Farrugia had already informed the police about gifts his brother had given to several people, including the clock. Another two similar clocks had been given to the PN. They were also paid by Powerplan.

Mr Rizzo told the court that no action was ever taken against Mr Fenech because the clock was not given for corruption purposes but as a gift.

Ines Farrugia, who made the clock, said she was interested in crafts. She said she had met Mr Fenech once ad he had shown an interest in her work and her husband suggested that she should give him a clock.

She valued the gift at between Lm400 and Lm500.

Ray Farrugia, Mrs Farrugia’s husband, said he had met Mr Fenech at a Christmas party and they had spoken about the clocks. He told the minister his wife made them and later the couple decided to give Mr Fenech one.

He said there was no connection between the business and the gift being given. He did not even know if Mr Fenech was minister at the time. He said he was not even aware where he lived.