Kurt Farrugia won a libel case against him.

Head of government communications Kurt Farrugia yesterday won a libel case instituted against him by Edgar Galea Curmi, the head of former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s secretariat, in July 2011.

The case was brought when Mr Farrugia was editor of the Labour Party’s One News.

Mr Galea Curmi felt aggrieved by an interview that the station conducted with journalist Saviour Balzan, who claimed Mr Galea Curmi had used his influence with former Police Commissioner John Rizzo over a case involving Cyrus Engerer’s father, Chris, who had been arrested over drugs.

It was also claimed that Mr Galea Curmi had tried to use the press to put other people in a bad light.

At the time of the case, Mr Galea Curmi had been contacted by Cyrus Engerer, his godson, seeking help in a case involving his father, who was being questioned by the police. Mr Galea Curmi had phoned the Police Commissioner to ask what was happening.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale dismissed the claim of libel, saying the report was in the public interest and that Mr Galea Curmi, as a public person, was subject to the higher scrutiny which that status implied.