Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/232206
9 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2013 voice was not deposited in court George Farrugia and his wife Kathy Ann were subsequently called upon by Mallia to liquidate the monies diverted from Powerplan, failing which he would take criminal action. Farrugia's lawyer, Siegfried Borg Cole, replied and a meeting was held with the aim of liquidating the misappropriated funds. The meeting was held in the presence of auditor Edward Camilleri, George Farrugia and Borg Cole, Tony Debono, Chris Farrugia and Manuel Mallia. It was decided that George Farrugia would pass all papers relevant to the case to the auditor. After this meeting, Mallia's legal services were no longer used by the company. Farrugia did not settle with his brothers, which then led to a court case filed by David Farrugia Sacco and the deposit of various Aikon in- Frank Sammut emerges from court with his defence lawyer, Joe Giglio (centre) voices that could have been sourced from George Farrugia's computer. The same invoices were available to the press when MaltaToday broke its story. A far cry from the €40 million that the Farrugia brothers were demanding, George Farrugia finally settled with Powerplan for €1.1 million. On his part, Tony Debono was no longer associated with Powerplan as chairman after this episode. Trafigura invoice The invoices, republished by MaltaToday, show how petrochemist Frank Sammut was receiving a $0.75c cut from the sale of fuel to Enemalta, from Trafigura, while serving as a consultant to the national energy corporation. The template for the Energy & Environment Consultants Ltd is identical to the template used for Aikon Ltd, the company administered by George Farrugia as his personal vehicle to conduct business with Trafigura and TOTSA. Aikon Ltd had been registered as a nominee company, with Farrugia's beneficiary status hidden from company records. At the same time, Farrugia was managing family business Powerplan for the importation of fuel from Trafigura and TOTSA. When he was accused of siphoning commissions payable to Powerplan, to his company Aikon Ltd, the audit firm that managed his nominee company resigned from their name-lending service. mvella@mediatoday.com.mt From left: an Aikon Ltd invoice, with the Wachovia Bank New York account where George Farrugia recieved commissions from Trafigura; the Trafigura invoice that Energy & Environment Consultants Ltd issued for a consultancy fee of $19,000 - note the similar template used by Aikon - this was sent by E&E's ultimate beneficiary, Frank Sammut; and the Trafigura consignment to Enemalta for $4.37 million in oil, for which Sammut was paid a 75 dollar cents for each of the 25,000 tonnes delivered. threats and on false pretences – BLM witting salesgirl was duped into signing the petition before his eyes. "I was at the Melita outlet in Naxxar, awaiting my turn in the queue. The woman in front of me paid for her things, then asked the salesgirl to sign a petition, claiming it was 'in favour of hobbies'." The salesgirl signed, but when it came to Borg's turn to be asked, he refused to sign saying that the petition was about spring hunting only and not about other pastimes. On hearing this, the salesgirl who had signed was visibly upset. "They are using lies and deceit to collect their signatures," Borg told MaltaToday. "I believe in democracy and the hunters have every right to do a petition if that's what they want. But they have no right to use deceptive methods to trick people into signing against their will." The petition itself, which is also being circulated by email, seems to confirm this strategy. Prospective signatories are being asked if they have a hobby that would be considered a 'minority' when compared to the population as a whole, and to support an amendment that would protect "the interests and/or rights and/or privileges" of special interest groups. Nicholas Barbara, spokesperson for CASH, said that the petition is being circulated at village band clubs, with the aim of associating the proposed referendum on spring hunting with a possible future ban on fireworks, and also in lotto booths. Efforts to contact organisers the Federations of Hunters Trappers and Conservationists (FKNK) on their listed numbers proved futile yesterday. But in comments given to other media in recent weeks, FKNK president Joe Perici Calascione said that the abrogative referendum on spring hunting "might pave the way for the abolition of other traditions and hobbies practised by minorities, such as fireworks, off-roading and pigeon racing. "A hobby is not a minority," Micklewright retorted in comments to MaltaToday. "Minorities which deserve protection are people who have suffered oppression or have been denied their rights. To extend this ar- Campaign seeking 40,000 signatures for referendum gument to hunting is ridiculous." Micklewright added that there are already laws and conventions to protect such minorities under EU legislation. The hunters' petition will not add to any protection that already exists. "It is absurd to suggest that other hobbies are under threat by this referendum," he said. "The fact that so many people have signed the petition" [the 35,000 target was reached this week] "shows that there is strong opposition to hunting in spring. No such opposition exists with regard to horseriding or pigeon racing. And while people may occasionally complain about fireworks, there is certainly not enough discontent to achieve a majority in a referendum." Meanhile CASH will continue col- lecting signaturs for the abrogative referendum even after the official target was reached. "We are hoping to collect 40,000 signatures, as a precaution against any duplications or invalid signatures collected so far," Micklewright said.