An appeal court has ordered the owners of a now defunct television station, Family TV, to pay more than €18,000 in outstanding wages to four former employees.

Andrew and Elizabeth Farrugia, directors of Far Fetched Media, the broadcasting licence holder of Family TV, had failed to pay salaries or overtime, notice and bonus money and allowances to Charmaine Xuereb, Daniela Camilleri, Nathaniel Micallef and Rodren Vella.

The station went off air unexpectedly last June and the owners could not be traced, prompting the employees to seek a legal remedy. The first court ordered Far Fetched Media last February to pay them €19,562.

Handing down judgment yesterday, the criminal court of appeal reduced the amount slightly, ordering that the four employees be paid a total of €18,365 between them, representing the whole amount owed. Payment must be made within a month.

Mr Justice David Scicluna heard that Ms Camilleri, Mr Micallef and Mr Vella had their employment terminated on June 1, 2009 while Ms Xuereb had been dismissed a month earlier.

Mr Farrugia, who is now working abroad, said he was looking after his family and paying court expenses. He asked the court to take into consideration the fact that he could not pay up because of third party action that was still pending. He also held that the employees’ claims were exaggerated.