Times of Malta had sought a reaction from the Malta Olympic Committee President before reporting on an investigation conducted by a British newspaper into alleged abuse in the sale of tickets for last year’s London Games, a court heard yesterday.

The then editor of Times of Malta, Ray Bugeja, and journalist Chris Peregin said that Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco was contacted before the first article was published and that his comments were included.

They were testifying in criminal libel proceedings instituted by Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco against Times of Malta.

Mr Peregin said that on June 17 last year, he viewed the newspaper article online and noticed that Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco, who at the time was president of the MOC, had been mentioned.

He tried to speak to the MOC general secretary, Joseph Cassar, but did not succeed. Mr Peregin said he spoke to the judge informing him of the British press report and the secretly-filmed video posted on the newspaper’s website that showed Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco and Mr Cassar attending a meeting with undercover investigative journalists.

Mr Peregin said he explained to the judge how to access the video on the iPad version of the UK newspaper and also helped him subscribe to the website.

In the telephone conversation, the judge denied any wrongdoing and his comments were included not only in the article but used as a headline too, the witness pointed out. The following day, Mr Peregin said he was informed that Mr Farrugia Sacco had told national television that the report on Times of Malta contained inaccuracies.

He said the judge pointed out to him that it was wrong to say that the undercover journalists wanted to buy tickets.

They wanted to buy the right to sell tickets on behalf of the MOC, Mr Peregin said, adding that the same article appearing on timesofmalta.com was duly corrected and it was agreed that the matter would be clarified in a follow-up item on Times of Malta.

Mr Peregin said that when the two spoke, the judge had raised only that issue.

But then in court he objected to every sentence in the two reports, appearing in June last year.

Mr Bugeja said the item written by Mr Peregin was based on The Sunday Times of London, a serious and reputable newspaper, and the judge’s comments.

It was also in the public interest.

The case was adjourned until October.