Charles Foca – who lost a libel suit to The Times earlier this month – has appealed the magistrate court’s decision, calling on the court to dismiss its decision.
This comes after a magistrate threw out a libel suit filed against newspaper editor Steve Mallia and journalist Patrick Cooke by the tenant of what was reported to be an ‘illegal’ structure on the historic Victoria Lines.
Mr Foca complained that an article highlighting that a private terrace built on public land on the Victoria Lines near Rabat was defamatory.
Mr Foca had contended that the article gave the impression that he was a violent person and that a Lands’ Department enforcement officer had called him a cowboy following the publication of the story. He testified that had also received several phone calls from friends and acquaintances, asking what was wrong with his property.
The article was published on February 18, 2013 and just over a week later, the planning authority moved in to demolish the structure over which a enforcement notice had been pending for 17 years.
Lawyers Edward Woods and Carlos Bugeja signed the application on Behalf of Mr Foca.