One of the two companies vying to sell a military helicopter to Malta has accused its competitor of trying to influence the public tender process through judicial proceedings.

AugustaWestland SpA yesterday filed a judicial protest through its local representative, Viroc Limited, rebutting claims made by Eurocopter SAS alleging irregularities which, it argues, led to an unfair advantage in its regard.

Mr Justice Joseph Zammit Mckeon last week issued a temporary warrant of prohibitory injunction after Eurocopter protested that it had been unfairly excluded from the bidding process.

The deal, worth about €58 million, was practically awarded to AugustaWestland because of its unfair exclusion, the French company said.

The Armed Forces of Malta plan to buy one helicopter, with an option for another two, to replace its Alouettes, donated by Libya in the mid-1980s.

Money from the European Borders Control Fund has been secured for the project.

Eurocopter had originally sought reconsideration through the Public Contracts Review Board but, dissatisfied with the outcome, took the matter to court securing a court order to stop the process temporarily.

In its judicial protest, AugustaWestland denied that the goalposts had been moved when the specifications were changed to raise the maximum take-off weight from seven to 10 tons.

It insisted it was a clerical mistake that did not affect or benefit the company.

Furthermore, Eurocopter had every opportunity to demand clarifications early on in the process but chose not to, AugustaWestland said.

It called on Eurocopter to stop making false allegations in its regard.