Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia was fined €700 today for not paying VAT due. The case has been ongoing since 2004 before the Magistrates' Court.
In a hearing this morning before Magistrate Doreen Clarke, Ms Caruana Galizia apologised for not turning up at the last sitting, saying she was abroad.
She also said that the VAT due had not been paid because she left the matter to somebody else, who did not follow instructions. She said the matter was being settled immediately.
The amount of VAT due was not disclosed.