A doctor who examined Vince Farrugia, director-general of the GRTU, after he was beaten up in his office last March, told a court today that Mr Farrugia had suffered separation and dislocation of the cartilage between ribs eight and 11. Healing normally took between six weeks and eight months but could take a year.

Dr Anthony Samuel was giving evidence in the compilation of evidence against Sandro Chetcuti, who is accused of having beaten Mr Farrugia and attempted to kill him.

Dr Samuel said the injuries suffered by Mr Farrugia were compatible with a blunt force trauma.

Defence counsel Manuel Farrugia asked Dr Samuel whether he knew Mr Farrugia and his family.

Dr Samuel confirmed that he did.

Dr Mallia asked the doctor whether he was asked to inflate his findings of the injuries.

Dr Samuel said he wasn't and all the findings were documented by the Medical Imaging Department.

The case continues.

Consultant Surgeon Joseph Debono said he had also examined Mr Farrugia, on March 12. He had bruising to one of his eyes and to his chest. Ribs eight and nine were tender in what was usually associated with fracture. He had then referred the patient to Dr Samuel.