A court has been requested to force The Malta Independent columnist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia to reveal the source behind the claim that Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi was seen kissing his communications coordinator Lindsey Gambin.

Both Dr Mizzi ‐ who is married to Malta’s special envoy to China Sai Mizzi ‐ and Ms Gambin deny having an affair.

During today’s court hearing, Dr Mizzi’s lawyer Aron Mifsud Bonnici asked Mrs Galizia to reveal who the “senior police source” is who informed her the pair had been kissing at a Portomaso bar.

Mrs Caruana Galizia refused, arguing that as a journalist she has a right to protect her sources.

Lawyer Paul Lia, who is also appearing for Dr Mizzi, argued that Mrs Caruana Galizia should not be afforded the right to protect her source as her blog is not registered as a news website.

Mrs Caruana Galizia explained that it is not possible for her to register her blog as such.

Mrs Caruana Galizia’s lawyer Joseph Zammit Maempel argued that the source of the information is irrelevant as the blog was written by his client.

He pointed out that Mrs Caruana Galizia is a journalist and therefore has a legal right to protect her source.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale said he will hand down a decision during the next court sitting as to whether Mrs Caruana Galizia is a journalist and has a right to protect her source.