MP claims journalist recorded phone interview without his knowledge

Labour MP José Herrera filed a judicial after a journalist from the Nationalist Party media phoned him and aired parts of the phone call without informing him he was being recorded.

Dr Herrera filed the protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court against journalist Keith Demicoli, Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea and the Malta Maritime Authority.

Dr Herrera said that about two weeks ago, Mr Demicoli called him on his mobile phone and, without informing him that he was being recorded, started asking questions of a personal nature. Mr Demicoli asked him about the examination he sat for to obtain a nautical licence and about other maritime-related matters. Dr Herrera replied to all questions because he had nothing to hide.

He complained because he was never told he was being recorded or that anything he said would be reported. Mr Demicoli had acted in breach of journalistic ethics and ought to be censured by the Press Club (now known as the Institute for Maltese Journalists), he said. Last week, Dr Herrera added, Mr Demicoli phoned him again and told him he was in possession of confidential information about him. This information was exclusive to MMA, yet Mr Demicoli managed to get hold of it and this was in breach of the Data Protection Act, Dr Herrera noted.

While stressing that he had nothing to hide, he added that the recording had been made to gain some form of political advantage which was why it was aired on Net Television and published in the newspapers Il-Mument and In-Nazzjon.

Dr Herrera held Mr Demicoli, the minister and the MMA liable in damages.

Lawyer Edward Zammit Lewis signed the protest.