Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/451763
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 JANUARY 2015 12 GODWIN Sant is described by those who know him well as a man of a few words, an introvert who kept a low profile. Educated by the Jesuits, he grew up sharing the same school in the same year as the young Tonio Fenech, Michael Fenech Adami and Paul Borg Olivier. A mere coincidence, one that shows how small Malta is. At school he was known as the son of a certain Alfred C. Sant, the songwriter, who coined the song with its familiar cho- rus: "il-Merill tweet, tweet, il-Merill tweet, tweet." He was respected as an engineer and was one of the most senior officials at the Malta Resources Authority. His role was crucial in serving as a regu- lator and drawing up and outlining legislation, and ensuring that strict standards were adhered to by players in the energy sector. Godwin Sant was also privy to highly sensitive information, which he shared at will with pardoned oil trader George Farrugia. There were many occasions when he was seen in the company of George Farrugia who, unknown to many people, had nu- merous business interests, including the supply of fuel station technology, with an undisputed market of over 80 such outlets. The regulator for these petrol sta- tions was unsurprisingly Godwin Sant. Fuel pumps are profitable busi- nesses and George Farrugia made it amply clear that he was king of the business and that no one would enter his lucrative market. In 2009, resources minister George Pullicino was aware that the fuel sta- tions needed to align themselves to European Union directives. Godwin Sant was tasked with overseeing this change. Not only did he organise and co- ordinate meetings with the relevant authorities, but he made it a point to pass on sensitive information to George Farrugia, and also to advise George Farrugia so he would be best able to provide the service needed for these important and very expensive changes. Godwin Sant was for George Farru- gia a very important player and Far- rugia, whose wife Cathy had worked for eight years as one of two secre- taries on the same floor as Lawrence Gonzi at Mizzi House, made sure not to mention his name to the po- lice during interrogation – and more importantly to the Public Accounts Committee. Draft legislation sent to Farrugia On 20 February, 2009, a meeting was held at the MRA energy direc- torate, when present for the meet- ing were Maurizo Busuttil from the MRA, and Mark Scerri and Michael Seychell for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. The subject was the proposed legal notice on the control of volatile or- ganic compound emissions (storage and distribution of petrol from ter- minal to service stations) regulations. The proposals were earmarked for the Office of the Prime Minister. Godwin Sant was kind enough to send the minutes to George Farru- gia. The information gave useful and crucial information on how the dis- pensers would have to be upgraded, and on the incorporation of recovery of gases, upgrade of pipework and removal and re-instatement of fore- court areas. The intelligence passed on to George Farrugia was further incred- ibly augmented by a copy of the draft legislation. Godwin Sant sent out the attachments from his gmail account with the wording: "… as agreed please see the attached for your better un- derstanding of the subject." George Farrugia lost no time at all. He immediately relayed the informa- tion to his suppliers, who provided him with a variety of options. Godwin Sant's usefulness had no bounds. He would supplement George Farrugia's craving for seal- ing contracts and business deals by proposing a line of action. He would advise whom to contact and how to make the contact. Farrugia was eyeing tenders for landfills In an email from Godwin Sant to George Farrugia, Sant writes: "George, please refer to CEO Vince Magri vmagri@wasteservmalta.com and personal technical assistant hdebono@wasteservemalta.com and also copy in my chairman's address as follows chairman@wasteservemalta. com. Regards, Godwin." It remained unclear on how many occasions the two men travelled to- gether, but they appear to have done so and to have even met foreign com- panies to make presentations. As was the case after a presentation to a sub- sidiary of oil company Total in which the director of the photovoltaic de- partment thanks both Sant and Far- rugia. Furthermore, Godwin Sant writes in an email to Farrugia telling him that the overall report (related to the presentation to Total) would be for- warded to the ministry and that he would keep him in the loop. On another occasion, this time unrelated to tenders but related to privatisation, Sant sends Farrugia a cutting from a newspaper with the title: 'Advanced negotiations in pri- vatisation of petroleum distribution'. The subject of the email is "eeeeem- mmm…." denoting that the two men had already communicated to each other on the subject. Sant pushes Pandolfino to finalise contract Last Sunday, the publication of the email showing that Godwin Sant was the recipient of football tickets cour- tesy of Trafigura through George Far- rugia, led to Sant's arrest. It also led to the pronouncement by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat that if it were proven that George Farrugia had lied to the police, he would con- sider withdrawing the presidential pardon Farrugia had been given on condition that he would tell all he knew. Godwin Sant had the very impor- tant role of ensuring that the fuel sold News The introvert who lent a helping Godwin Sant ruined his career by willingly breaching confidentiality as energy regulator, but the million dollar question is whether the police have enough evidence to nail George Farrugia and his accomplices? SAVIOUR BALZAN investigates Saviour Balzan The draft law that was sent to George Farrugia by Godwin Sant before being sent to the Prime Minister The minutes of the meeting at the Malta Resources Authority on the changes needed for fuel stations The email informing George Farrugia of the background material related to the draft legislation The email sent as a blind copy to George Farrugia in which Godwin Sant is calling on Pippo Pandolfino to send formal contract of George Farrugia's clients Totsa