Konrad Mizzi fails to turn up in court to testify on 17 Black case

A day after a National Audit Office highlighted serious shortcomings in the way the contracts for the Delimara power station were awarded by Enemalta Corporation, then still under his watch, Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi today failed to turn up in court to testify in a libel case he himself instituted against former Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil.

On Wednesday, the National Audit Office submitted a report to Parliament in which it said that energy purchased through the interconnector was a cheaper option than the new power station built in the previous legislature, and that the departure of Gasol plc was in breach of the contractual obligations in force at the time.

The key concern that emerged from the NAO's review of the evaluation process of contracts awarded to ElectroGas Malta Ltd by Enemalta Corporation was the inconsistent approach at times adopted in the assessment of submissions.

Yesterday, in an elaborated press conference to defend himself in pure damage-control mode, Mizzi said that he had no problem speaking under oath about 17 Black, which was listed the 'Main Clients' and 'Possible Payers/Senders' of Tillgate and Hearnville, the offshore Panamanian companies owned by OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi.

But, less than 24 hours later, Mizzi did not turn up in court where he was to testify in the libel case he instituted against Busuttil.

They are running away from justice, Busuttil tweeted.

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