Maltapost plc has been ordered to pay a former employee nearly €16,000 withheld from his salary while he was facing criminal charges.

Reuben Scicluna, who served as a postman since 1990, and his wife Brigitte had sued Maltapost plc and the Prime Minister’s Office, asking the First Hall of the Civil Court to order the payment of half his salary that had been withheld while he underwent court proceedings.

The facts of the case go back to 1998 when the Government had entrusted the running of the postal services to Maltapost plc.

Postal employees were given the choice of either remaining in government service or join Maltapost.

In 2000, Mr Scicluna had opted to stay with Maltapost.

In April 2001, he was charged with association in the trafficking, importation and possession of drugs. It resulted that he had collected a package for a third party, which was found to have contained drugs.

He was acquitted of all charges in March 2008.

Upon his arraignment, Mr Scicluna was suspended by Maltapost on half pay in terms of the collective agreement.

The court noted that Maltapost had carried out a restructuring process in 2003 that led to a reduction in employees. Staff previously in government service were given the opportunity to return and Mr Scicluna had taken this option.

The Government had paid him the salary withheld in the period following his return to government employ in 2003 and the final outcome of the criminal case. He requested the court to order either the Government or Maltapost to pay the outstanding amount.

Mr Justice Joseph Zammit McKeon declared there was no doubt that between April 2001 and December 2003 Mr Scicluna had been a Maltapost employee.

It was therefore up to Maltapost to refund him that part of his salary that had been withheld during this period.

The court therefore ordered Maltapost to pay Mr Scicluna €15,817.77.