The man who accused former disgraced Sliema mayor Nikki Dimech of bribery did so out of revenge, former local councillor Sandra Camilleri testified yesterday.

Ms Camilleri said she had a conversation with the former council contracts manager Stephen Buhagiar, who said he had claimed bribery to get back at Mr Dimech after losing his job.

Mr Dimech is pleading not guilty to bribery and to reviling, threatening or insulting a police officer in 2009.

During the proceedings, Mr Buhagiar has testified that Mr Dimech had quite plainly asked him how much he was ready to “offer”, such as five or 10 per cent commission, to secure him a job as contracts manager with the council.

Yesterday, Ms Camilleri said that, when the allegations made by Mr Buhagiar surfaced in the media, she felt offended and phoned him to find out why he had made the claim. She said to him: “Couldn’t we have just sat round a table and sorted things out?”

He replied that he had lost his job because of Mr Dimech and wanted to seek revenge, she testified.

Ms Camilleri had been a local councillor since 2009, until it was dissolved two weeks ago.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit deferred the case for final submissions before judgement is handed down.

Police Inspector Angelo Gafà prosecuted. Lawyers Stephen Tonna Lowell and Joseph Giglio appeared for Mr Dimech.