Tug Malta has accused one of its employees of coming up with silly excuses to try to avoid attending training abroad, claiming he was scared of flying.

The company pointed out that the employee, Joseph Dimech, had travelled by plane on three occasions over the past two years.

Last week Mr Dimech, a tug boat master, filed a judicial protest in which he said he had been suspended from work after he refused to attend training abroad because of his fear of flying. He argued that Tug Malta’s behaviour amounted to discriminatory treatment.

In a counter protest filed in the First Hall of the Civil Court, Tug Malta pointed out that Mr Dimech had travelled by plane for work purposes before and never mentioned his fear of flying.

He had come up with this phobia and various other silly excuses to avoid going on the training programme as was his duty, the company maintained.

It also pointed out that Mr Dimech had already made his case before the board of discipline that decided against him. Despite this, he filed the protest and the publicity it attracted in the media created a negative impression of the company.

Tug Malta called on Mr Dimech to withdraw his action and held him liable in damages.

Lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona represented Tug Malta.