The head of communications at the Office of the Prime Minister, Kurt Farrugia, was yesterday fined a total of €600 for failing to turn up at court but it was revoked within the hour after he turned up and explained he had not been notified.

The two fines, at €300 each, were imposed by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale who noted that he was not present. The first fine was handed out in libel proceedings initiated by Malta’s former permanent representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana.

The second related to proceedings initiated by the former PBS head of news Natalino Fenech.

The sittings were scheduled to be held at 9.30am. But Mr Farrugia made an appearance just after 11.30am, apologised, and said that he had not been notified.

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