Shipyards CEO, former chairman win €20,000 libel damages over online article

Malta Shipyards CEO Christopher Bell and former chairman John Cassar White were yesterday awarded €10,000 each in damages after a court found that an article by a foreign businessman was libellous.

The article entitled "Cala Corp. ceases negotiations with current Maltese government and Malta Shipyards" had appeared on two Maltese websites and on an international business website.

The article contained libellous material and false accusations, the court ruled. In the libel suit the two men said they felt libelled by the contents and accusations made by the businessman, Joseph Cala.

Last year Malta Shipyards (MSL) had entered into discussions with Mr Cala and the US-based Cala Corporation about the possibility of building a number of ships at the Marsa shipyard, a project Mr Cala claimed was worth $5 billion. The discussions came to an end after MSL were not satisfied with Mr Cala's bid to take over the company.

Magistrate Silvio Meli said that Mr Cala had attacked Mr Cassar White and Mr Bell maliciously, alleged that the two men had dealt with him in an artificial manner and that they were incompetent at their jobs.

The magistrate found Mr Cala's accusations to be unfounded and awarded the men €10,000 each.

Lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona appeared for Mr Bell and Mr Cassar White while Mr Cala was represented by Dr Richard Sladden.