Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) employee Alice Peplow, filed a judicial protest before the First Hall of Civil Courts, saying that repeated broadcasting of accusations by One TV against her were unethical, and causing her serious moral and material damage.

Ms Peplow, 41, was implicated in the alleged bribery case regarding the issuing of 230 mariners licences by MMA. She had already started libel proceedings against One TV head of News and Current Affairs Miriam Dalli and journalist Charlon Gouder, which are still ongoing before the Magistrates Court.

She held that One TV carried on broadcasting unfounded allegations, which she had already denied under oath in court. Given that the libel proceedings were still sub-judice, Ms Peplow held that the political TV station was using her for its own partisan aims on the eve of an electoral campaign, even though she was not a public figure but just an MMA employee.

Ms Peplow asked the court to take all necessary measures in order to protect her, and asked the TV station to stop broadcasting similar material.

The protest which was presented against One Productions Limited, its managing director Michael Vella Haber, Ms Dalli, News and Current Affairs Manager Roberto Francalanza and Broadcasting Manager Ruth Vella, was also sent to the Ethics Commission of the Institute of Maltese Journalists.

Dr Ian Spiteri Bailey signed the protest.