A newspaper editor today made a series of allegations against police inspector Elton Taliana, using information he received from "sources."
Testifying in court, MaltaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan said he received information from third parties linking Mr Taliana to "arms importers and prostitution."
Mr Taliana filed a libel case against Mr Balzan over an article titled: 'Police inspector in wrongful prosecution was investigated over 2007 arson.' The article linked Mr Taliana with an arson attack on Mr Balzan's Naxxar home.
Mr Balzan said he passed on the information he had on Mr Taliana to former police commissioners John Rizzo and Peter Paul Zammit but no action was taken.
Mr Balzan exhibited a number of documents in court, including pictures of a "drunk" Mr Taliana.Other pictures show Mr Taliana with people who have been convicted for drug possession and theft, Mr Balzan said.
Mr Balzan also made a series of allegations against Mr Taliana's brother, saying he is involved in running brothels and was linked to an arson attack in Gzira.
The relevance of this is that the two brothers are close and once lived together, Mr Balzan said.
Lawyer Joe Zammit Maempel, appearing for Mr Taliana, called Mr Balzan paranoid and said he is in need of psychiatric help.
Mr Balzan in turn accused Dr Zammit Maempel of having a superiority complex.
Magistrate Francesco Depasquale threatened to throw both the men out of the courtroom over their heated exchange.
The case continues in April.