The rift between the Home Affairs Ministry’s chief of staff Silvio Scerri and John Bundy has escalated as Mr Scerri this morning filed a libel action suit against John Bundy, following a report published on 5 June in The Times titled ‘Silvio Scerri Cut Norman Vella’s Post’, the story of which quoted Mr Bundy, and which according to Mr Scerri, included false allegations made by Mr Bundy in his confrontation.

Mr Bundy’s comments to the media came after the testimony given by former television presenter Norman Vella in the Employment Commission.

Mr Vella testified that Mr Bundy told him that he had overheard Mr Scerri say that he (Scerri) wanted Mr Vella out of PBS, a claim that Mr Bundy confirmed to The Malta Independent, but which was denied by Mr Scerri.

For his part, Mr Bundy is sticking to his own version of facts.

In comments on Facebook, Mr Bundy said that "Silvio Scerri is saying I am a lier, Silvio Scerri knows that I do not lie, Silvio Scerri knows that I am not afraid of the truth, Silvio Scerri is politically powerful, John Bundy is politically correct."