Richard Cachia Caruana, Malta's permanent representative to the EU, has been awarded €1,000 in damages after the Magistrates' Court found that an article entitled "Stand up for your rights, you Maltese citizens," was libellous.

The article was published in a newsletter issued by the Friends of Labour MP Anglu Farrugia in October 2004. It was written by Dr Farrugia.

Mr Cachia Caruana complained to the court that the article had claimed that he had violated financial regulations and that he had purchased property in Brussels. Plaintiff denied these allegations and said that the government had purchased the property in Brussels.

The article also alleged that Mr Cachia Caruana had held a meeting with former American President George Bush. But Mr Cachia Caruana told the court that the president had been invited to Malta to attend the 25th Anniversary of Independence, and that he had met with the president on that occasion and not in connection with any commercial activity.

Magistrate Apap Bologna concluded that the article was libellous and did not constitute fair comment.