Joseph Borg, a director of Marks and Charles Ltd, owned two plots of land in Fgura – Ta’ Zilfa and Ta’ Beligna. These plots were about to be transferred to Piju Camilleri, a representative of Paola Developments, but at the last minute Terry Ltd, represented by Joseph Pace, stepped in and bought the land.

Mr Borg said Piju Camilleri had threatened to bomb his (Borg’s) house if he did not get Piju Camilleri’s consent for the transfer of the land. The threats went on till 1986, when the final contract was signed, said Mr Borg.

The complainant said the land was worth Lm450,000, not the Lm1,500 he had been given. He claimed that he had suffered psychologically and that the episode had prevented him from developing his business further. In fact, he currently does not work.

In 2003, in the name of Terry Ltd, Mr Pace admitted the allegations made by Mr Borg and claimed the damages he suffered amounted to Lm460,000.

Mr Borg’s complaint was presented in the first hall of the civil court yesterday, which ruled in his favour.

The court, presided over by Mr Justice Noel Cuschieri, ruled that Terry Ltd had acquired the land in a fraudulent manner and was responsible for the damage Mr Borg suffered as result.