The following is a right of reply requested by Effective Marketing Ltd under the Press Act.

Reference is made to the article titled '€10,000 compensatory award for unfair dismissal' published in The Malta Independent on Sunday on 13 August, 2017. Since it did not reproduce the correct facts I am hereby forwarding for your immediate publication the facts as they unfolded.

Compensation awarded related to salary amounting to €2,250 and commissions which matured in the interim amounting to €7,723. The title of €10,000 compensatory award is misleading. 

Effective Marketing Ltd denies categorically that there was hacking involved and the Tribunal did not conclude that there was any hacking. Moreover, every employee is made aware that the IT infrastructure automatically monitors certain access as to security protocols.  This was also included in Margaret Brincat's contract of employment. 

Mr Attard categorically denies paranoia, any illegal or unethical action, but was simply carrying out his responsibilities as a manager.  It is pertinent to point out that Margaret Brincat together with her partner Martin Vella set up a competing business soon after the dispute which gave rise to her dismissal, which business is in full competition with Effective Marketing Ltd, and its related companies. 

The Tribunal decision does not refer to any Ponzi scheme, further comment is superfluous and the intentions of such publication malicious. Neither Effective Marketing Ltd. nor its Directors are the subject of any criminal investigation or have any pending criminal proceedings.

Effective Marketing Ltd. and Mr Attard reserve all their rights at law with regards to said publication.

This newspaper now considers the issue definitively closed and will accept no further correspondence on the issue.  It is also to be noted that facts as published had reflected the claims of Margaret Brincat and not the Tribunal's decision.