A man who faced criminal proceedings over insulting remarks made on Facebook to the Chairman of the Malta Council for Science and Technology, and now Labour Party candidate Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

A certain Stefano Zampa, posted a link of an article on how Dr Pullicino Orlando nominated his girlfriend as national contact point for EU research programme Horizon 2020. The comment was posted last October.

Mr Zampa had to face charges of misuse of electronic communications equipment. Magistrate Joe Mifsud noted that the accused had filed an apology. The court declared the man is guilty and conditionally discharged him for six months. The maximum possible fine for this charge is €23,293.

The court noted that means of communications should not be used to create division amongst the people of Malta.

Inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee prosecuted and lawyer Vince Micallef appeared for Dr Pullicino Orlando.