Former Maltacom CEO Stephen Muscat is asking for Lm10,000 in compensation, claiming that the chairman of the board Sonny Portelli breached an agreement when he announced that Mr Muscat had been removed from the company.

In a judicial protest filed yesterday, Mr Muscat’s and his wife’s complaint centres on an interview that Mr Portelli gave the newspaper Business Today on 11 January.

Mr Muscat quoted Mr Portelli saying in the interview that he, Mr Muscat, had been “removed” from the company.

On the contrary, the former CEO claimed he had resigned and was not fired. He said that this comment was not only defamatory, but also breached an agreement that had been drawn up when he resigned.

The former Maltacom CEO said the agreement stipulated that Mr Portelli was not to bring up the issue in any public statement and if asked, he should have simply said that Mr Muscat was no longer employed with Maltacom.

For this breach of agreement, Mr Muscat is demanding Lm10,000 in compensation, in accordance with the agreement drawn up.

The protest was filed in the first hall of the Civil Court by Dr Richard Galea Debono.