Nationalist MP Joe Cassar this morning categorically denied the story reported on the General Workers’ Union newspaper l-orizzont today.
The newspaper reported that he had organised a meeting between the Gaffarena family and then PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil before the 2013 election.
In a statement this morning, Dr Cassar said that the truth will come out in court in the four libel cases filed by Dr Busuttil against the GWU and Labour Party media in connection with the same story.
In another development, Net TV presenter and former PN communications director Frank Psaila told The Malta Independent that despite the fact that businessman Joe Gaffarena advertised on his programme Iswed fuq l-Abjad, he still reported the Old Mint Street property controversy involving Gaffarena’s son Marco when it came to light.
Mr Psaila said that when he approached Mr Gaffarena on advertising in January, the issue of the property in Old Mint Street hadn’t surfaced yet.
“I do not feel that just because one advertises on my programme, he or she should be given some form of protection,” he told The Malta Independent. Mr Psaila bought air-time from Net TV and said he had to finance his expenses via advertising.
Mr Psaila was reacting to media reports which stated that Joe Gaffarena had given him €1,500 in advertising on Net TV earlier this year.
Mr Psaila said that on 19 January 2015, he and Michael Fenech Adami approached Mr Gaffarena to see whether he was interested in advertising on his programme.
“Mr Gaffarena wanted to advertise his petrol station, some cars he imported and his car wash. We agreed that Mr Gaffarena advertises his businesses for four months – between March and June this year for the price of €1,500 including VAT,” he explained. “I issued an invoice as is required to Mr Gaffarena and a receipt as soon as Mr Gaffarena wrote me the cheque. I paid what was due to the VAT department,” he continued.
Media.Link’s CEO Brian St John confirms Gaffarena advertised on Net TV programme
In reply to our questions, Media.Link Communications CEO Brian St John said that Media.Link has no commercial or other relationship with Joe Gaffarena. “The spending you refer to concerns advertising within a programme carried by NET Television on the basis of sold airtime.
“Adverts within this programme are sourced directly by the producers of the programme and not by Media.Link Communications. In the meantime, Media.Link Communications would not be privy to the amount charged by producers for advertising sourced directly by them for their programmes,” Mr St John said.