Dione Borg, who works for NET TV and in-Nazzjon, said that just before Dr Sant had arrived at the complex, it was becoming clear that the Yes camp had won.

He was testifying in a libel case initiated by Dr Sant against The Times in connection with a letter entitled Upholding Democracy which appeared on 1 April 2003.

Dr Sant was objecting to claims in the letter which said that he had entered the complex with between 20-30 people. The author of the letter also asked whether the people to whom he was referring had been screened in security checks.

Mr Borg said he was working on 8 March 2003, specifically covering the referendum result. “I was going around inside the counting hall and the atmosphere was calm. All the indications were pointing to a Yes victory and even the MLP camp began to notice,” he said.

Mr Borg said the atmosphere soured slightly, but everything was still fine. “When he arrived, MLP agents, some of them wearing black jackets, surrounded Dr Sant as he entered the compound and did not allow journalists to approach him,” he said. Mr Borg continued that the men in black jackets were former police officers who were in the Special Mobile Unit (SMU).

He said the men in question then followed Dr Sant into the counting hall proper. “There was a crush and the police on security duty lost track of the security screening process. Because the corridors are narrow the situation got worse,” said Mr Borg.

He said that Dr Sant then proclaimed a Partnership victory and MLP supporters started to bang on the perspex walls.

The case continues. Dr Stefan Frendo is appearing for The Times while Dr Pawlu Lia is appearing for Dr Sant.