A court yesterday ordered PN newspaper Il-Mument to pay Lm300 in damages to a man, after an article published in the paper was deemed to be libellous.

Joseph Ciantar filed a writ against Victor Camilleri, as editor of il-Mument, in connection with an article published on 9 November 2003, entitled: Financial irregularities within Zebbug local council. The complainant said that the article was intended to tarnish his good name, and requested the court to order up to Lm5,000 in compensation. The court, presided over by magistrate Silvio Meli, agreed with the complainant, declared the article to be libellous and defamatory and ordered the newspaper to compensate Mr Ciantar with Lm300. Dr Gavin Gulia appeared for Mr Ciantar.