Former Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said turned up in court in Gozo this afternoon to fight claims of perjury in a child custody case he was involved in as a lawyer seven years ago.

Dr Said resigned last month after a court of appeal ordered the police to take criminal action against him for alleged perjury.

The case revolves around Dr Said's testimony before the civil courts in Gozo last year in the case between Anthony Xuereb and Helen Milligan who are battling over the custody of their child.

Dr Said, who used to be Ms Milligan’s lawyer, was summoned to testify about court proceedings that had led to his former client being awarded temporary custody in 2007.

On the basis of that testimony, Mr Xuereb alleged that Dr Said lied under oath.

The claim was dismissed by the police and the Attorney General and then by a Magistrates’ court, which ruled that, even though Dr Said had made a mistake in his testimony, he had not committed perjury.

However, a court of appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Michael Mallia, overturned that judgement, ruling that Dr Said’s error did in fact constitute prima facie evidence of possible perjury.

He ordered criminal proceedings be instituted against him for a court to decide the matter.

If convicted, Dr Said will be liable to imprisonment for a term of between seven months and two years but, since he could be treated as a first-time offender, he may be placed under probation, conditionally discharged or even given a suspended sentence.