A woman was yesterday fined Lm100 after an appeal court found her guilty of defaming a sports journalist.

Triza Grima had originally been cleared of falsely informing the authorities and making false allegations against Robert Cutajar and defaming him on June 1, 2006, at the Office of the Prime Minister.

She was cleared after the Magistrates' Court ruled she had not acted maliciously.

The Attorney General filed an appeal.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, sitting in the appeal court, heard that the case started when Ms Grima and her fiancé went to the OPM and told two employees there she had paid Lm500 for her fiancé to be given a job with the Armed Forces of Malta. Ms Grima indicated she had paid Francis Mizzi, known as Pluto, Lm500 so that he would make arrangements for her fiancé, Lee Anthony Degiorgio, to get a job with the army. She also said she had seen Mr Mizzi pass the money on to Net TV sports journalist Mr Cutajar, who also worked at the OPM.

However, the judge noted, in a statement released to the police Ms Grima said she never saw Mr Mizzi hand over the money to Mr Cutajar. This was corroborated by the evidence of Mr Mizzi who admitted he never gave any money to Mr Cutajar and did not even speak to him about it. Mr Mizzi said he took the money because he had financial problems.

On evaluating the case, the judge noted that Ms Grima had probably mentioned Mr Cutajar to strengthen her case and get a job for her fiancé. She was also justifiably angry at Mr Mizzi, who had tricked her into paying him Lm500.

Although she had not acted out of malice, one could not deny the fact that she had acted irresponsibly when she brought Mr Cutajar - who she did not even know - into the picture.

For this reason she had to be found guilty of defaming him.

Lawyer Edward Gatt appeared for Ms Grima.