Columnist, top developer clash over 'baron' comment

A newspaper columnist has told the police she was assaulted by a leading developer after a heated exchange between the two in St Julians on Tuesday evening.

Claire Bonello is claiming that Charles Polidano, known as Ic-Caqnu, slapped her in the face after she referred to him as a "baron". Mr Polidano, however, is denying the allegation and said he pushed her after she labelled him a "drug baron".

The incident was provoked by a verbal exchange which started at Le Meridien St Julians' in Balluta - owned by Mr Polidano - and continued in Balluta square, where many people had gathered to watch the World Cup qualifier between England and Sweden. Confirming the incident yesterday, Dr Bonello, a regular contributor to MaltaToday, said that as she walked out of one of the hotel's restaurant with a couple of girlfriends and their children, she brushed past a table where Mr Polidano and others were sitting.

"As I walked by I quipped 'barunijiet' (barons). When I reached the street, a woman who was sitting with Mr Polidano ran after me, asking why I hated Mr Polidano. She asked who was paying me to write articles about him and what his competitors were paying me to do," Dr Bonello said.

She said that the woman, who Mr Polidano later said was Isabel Vella, told her she was jealous of their success and that Mr Polidano's business did not concern her.

"She asked me not to continue writing vicious articles about him and to write about the Malta Environment and Planning Authority which is responsible for issuing permits. The woman asked me why I wanted to go to Mr Polidano's hotel if I hated him so much.

"I replied that I would not be back and walked off into the piazza. A couple of minutes later I heard my friend calling me in an alarmed manner, shouting 'Claire, Claire - I'm going to call the police'. I turned round to see Mr Polidano facing me."

Seeing that Mr Polidano was very angry, Dr Bonello said she apologised for her remark, at which point he raised his hand and slapped her "across the left side of my face".

Dr Bonello said a young boy pulled him away from her.

"Mr Polidano started shouting and dared me to call my editor before going to the police. Again, he went away. Mr Polidano subsequently told my husband that he had slapped me and that I would never write about him again," she said.

Speaking to The Times yesterday, Mr Polidano claimed that Dr Bonello had gratuitously hurled comments at him.

"As she walked past our table, she spoke to a person who was with me and referred to me as a drug baron. Then she claimed that the food of my hotel was bad, and so was the service. So why did she come? Then she claimed that she would continue writing about me. She provoked me and you have to be inhuman not to react," Mr Polidano said.

He said he felt that Dr Bonello's comment was damaging to his reputation.

"I have always earned my money in an honest manner. She called me a drug baron three times, and that is what provoked my reaction," Mr Polidano said.

Journalists' Committee chairman Karl Schembri said when contacted that "while Dr Bonello's comment was unwarranted, Mr Polidano's reaction was unacceptable".