Government Head of Communications and former Labour Party spokesman Kurt Farrugia has been found guilty of libel and fined €1,500.

The case was instituted by Gege Gatt, son of former Transport Minister Austin Gatt, who claimed that a news item broadcast on the PL's radio station in January 2012 was libelous and defamatory. At the time, Mr Farrugia was editor of the PL's radio station.

In the news report it was claimed that, while Austin Gatt was managing the PN's electoral campaign, his son was helping coordinating attacks against then Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat over the internet.

It had also claimed that Mr Gatt had recently set up a number of technology companies, including Icon and Muovo, which had a considerable amount of work in a very short time. It said Mr Gatt was using the company resources to help the PN attack Dr Muscat.

The One News report also claimed that Gege Gatt was being pushed to replace Paul Borg Olivier as PN Secretary General.

The court, presided by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, upheld Dr Gatt's argument and ruled the news item defamatory. On the other hand it rejected Kurt Farrugia's arguments that the item was fair comment.

The court found nothing wrong with the claims related to Mr Gatt's companies but said the part that claimed that Dr Gatt was coordinating the online attacks against Joseph Muscat was defamatory. Mr Farrgia was ordered to pay €1,500 in damages.