Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant has been ordered to pay €1,000 in libel damages after a court ruled that parts of a speech he made in 2007, and reported in the media, were libellous to Michael Seychell.

Mr Seychell, a member of the Board of PBS, had felt libelled by remarks by Dr Sant that he had participated in PBS Board meetings when decisions concerning a company run by his daughter were taken.

Mr Seychell told the court that he had been a PBS Board member since 2003. His daughter, Diane was married to Pierre Portelli who was involved in a company called Water Melon Communications Ltd. This company produced television programmes including L-ispjun.

He said that when the PBS Board was discussing this programme in the course of a meeting about the station's schedule of programmes, he hadhad declared his possible conflict of interest. He had offered not to take part in the meeting and had left the board room.

But Dr Sant had publicly declared that Mr Seychell had remained in the room and had participated in the discussions.

Mr Seychell's testimony was corroborated by other members of the PBS Board. Dr Sant did not produce any evidence in this case.

Magistrate Apap Bologna found in favour of Mr Seychell and ordered Dr Sant to pay him €1,000 in libel damages.