Television presenter John Bundy has denied libelling Home Affairs Ministry chief of staff Silvio Scerri with statements over the termination of Norman Vella’s redeployment with PBS.

The libel is based on comments Mr Bundy gave Times of Malta in which he said he was present at the ministry when he heard Mr Scerri issue the order over the phone.

Mr Scerri vehemently denied the allegations and sued Mr Bundy for libel, insisting that Mr Bundy had made false claims about him and which were aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

But in his reply filed before the Magistrates’ Court, Mr Bundy said there was nothing libellous in what he had told Times of Malta as he was recounting something he had heard.

He said he did not intend making this public and it was only after Mr Vella mentioned it in court that the matter took a public dimension.