Joseph Muscat handpicked Joe Cordina as PL Financial Administrator, Minister for Finance, the Economy and Investment Tonio Fenech said during a press conference at the PN Headquarters in Pieta.

According to the PL statute which states the role of the Financial Administrator, Joe Cordina was handpicked by Joseph Muscat who pushed him forward to a vote in the PL Executive Committee Mr Fenech added. Before 2008, a number of these appointees were voted in, however this changed. The PL Leader cannot keep hiding behind press conferences held by other candidates, he said, adding that the PL Leader needs to answer as to why he appointed him.

Joe Cordina is an accountant who signed the accounts, the Minister said, adding that the invoices which were issued by Aikon Ltd numbered in the hundreds and showed a sum of $8.6million. "he knew what he was doing," The Minister said. However the accounts to the Malta Financial Services Authority did not show anywhere near that amount, he said, adding that something was off.

The Minister asked whether Dr Muscat knew Joe Cordina beforehand, and if so how. He also asked if he ever shared an office with Joe Cordina or if they have together advised people regarding foreign investments. The Minister added that indeed, Dr Muscat and Joe Cordina used to work together in the financial sector

Dr Muscat must answer to these questions, the Minister stated. “He must declare his relationship to Joe Cordina”.

The Minister believes that PL candidate Manuel Mallia had read the Powerplan report before sending the information to the Intershore Directors

When asked if he believed that it was proper for him to meet with George Farrugia, he said that it most definitely was as he wanted to meet him in front of the Police Commissioner in order to clarify that George Farrugia in no way gave the gift to Tonio Fenech.

Regarding the clock, the Minister quoted from the code of ethics which, according to him, stated that Ministers were allowed to accept gifts as long as they are not of a substantial sum and are not related to anything the Minister is doing.

All the PN Media did was report what was stated in the press conference yesterday, Secretary General Paul Borg Olivier stated when asked about the oncoming libel suit, where PL candidate Manuel Mallia will seek to jail the PN Secretary General. The last time a journalist was jailed for libel was under the PL Government, Paul Borg Olivier added.

The PL’s reaction regarding the party's involvement in the oil procurement scandal through Joe Cordina was to lie, the Minister explained, emphasising that Joesph Muscat must answer for this.