MaltaToday has stood by its article The Great Caravaggio Swindle about a Heritage Malta exhibition about the artist’s works. The article was found objectionable by Heritage Malta, which last Friday filed a judicial protest against it. MaltaToday said it would be filing a counter-protest.

Dott. Sgarbi had described the article published in MaltaToday as “grotesque”, but told the newspaper he had never read the story but relied on the headline read to him by Roberto Celli. Mr Celli is the person who was subcontracted by Heritage Malta to bring over the paintings for the exhibition.

MaltaToday said that one of the latest articles to be written prior to the exhibition appeared in October’s Sunday Circle, claiming that the exhibition showcased “12 of the master painter’s works”. This was never refuted by Dr Tabone, MaltaToday said. Other paintings that were not even present at the exhibition were advertised all over Malta and in Republic Street.