Television presenter John Bundy has denied libelling Home Affairs Ministry chief of staff Silvio Scerri with statements over the termination of Norman Vella’s redeployment with PBS.

The libel is based on comments Mr Bundy gave to Times of Malta in which he said he was present at the ministry when he heard Mr Scerri issue the order over the phone.

His comments were sought after Mr Vella testified before the Employment Commission on Wednesday saying Mr Bundy told him he had heard Mr Scerri issue the order for his return to his job at the Immigration Department.

Mr Scerri vehemently denied the allegations and sued for libel, insisting that Mr Bundy had made false claims about him and which were aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

But in his reply filed before the Magistrates’ Court, Mr Bundy said there was nothing libellous in what he had told Times of Malta as he was recounting something he had heard. He said he did not intend making this public and it was only after Mr Vella mentioned it in court that the matter took a public dimension.

He also said it was “interesting and indicative” that Mr Scerri did not summon the Times of Malta journalist who covered Mr Vella’s testimony in court and who called Mr Bundy to confirm his conversation with the former TV Hemm presenter.

Mr Bundy said it was evident that Mr Scerri wanted to disassociate himself from the decision to terminate Mr Vella’s redeployment with PBS.

If Mr Scerri believed that this decision was good, nothing written about it would expose him to public ridicule, Mr Bundy said through his lawyer Robert Abela.

The case starts being heard on Monday.