Election heckler Joe Said, who campaigned against the re-election of the Nationalist government during the 2008 election, was ordered to pay Resources Minister George Pullicino €5,000 in libel damages.

Speaking during the programme Realtà, aired on Smash TV in January 2008, Mr Said had compared Mr Pullicino with former Labour minister Lorry Sant.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna pointed out that Mr Sant was involved in corruption linked to the development of land. At the time of the programme, Parliament was debating the partial revision of the 1989 structural plan.

Mr Said made a sarcastic reference to a poster that read “Vote George, get Lorry” used during a pro-environment rally.

The court ruled that Mr Said implied that Mr Pullicino was corrupt and such a remark constituted libel. Given the serious nature of the claim, the magistrate ordered Mr Said to pay Mr Pullicino €5,000 in libel damages.

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