A court has upheld a libel suit filed by former Malta Developers Association president Michael Falzon against GRTU president Paul Abela and former director general Vince Farrugia.  

The case centred on a 2013 press release issued by the GRTU on the day that Mr Falzon testified in criminal proceedings against MDA vice president Sandro Chetcuti who was accused of beating up and attempting to kill Vince Farrugia. 

Mr Chetcuti was found guilty of causing Mr Farrugia slight injuries.

Mr Farrugia was irritated by Mr Falzon’s testimony and issued an “urgent” press release stating that he would take “all necessary action in relation to the erroneous and misleading assertions made, possibly constituting perjury..."

He had also said in the press release that other “fallacious allegations and insinuations” made by Mr Falzon would be rebutted in court by virtue of witnesses and documented evidence.

Mr Farrugia said he was disappointed that Mr Falzon had based his testimony on the assault case solely on the version given to him by Mr Chetcuti and that he had not bothered to seek him out for his version of events, especially since the two shared a bond of “friendship and mutual respect”. 

It resulted that Mr Farrugia had reacted to Mr Falzon’s comments as reported by the media as he was not physically present when they were made in court.

The court said that accusing someone of lying under oath was a very serious offence.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale observed that Mr Farrugia had admitted to issuing a press release without full cognisance of all the facts and without first consulting Mr Falzon.

Had the accused not abused his power as GRTU director to issue a press release and had he instead contacted the applicant, he would have learnt the facts and would not have publicly accused him of giving false testimony, the court said.

The court ordered Mr Farrugia and Mr Abela to pay Mr Falzon €5,000.