I refer to the news report entitled “Former Mayor’s €2000 Libel Win” (ToM, 23 January) where the following was stated: “The government head of communications Kurt Farrugia, and former Malta Labour Party candidate Charlon Gouder were yesterday ordered to pay €2000 to the former mayor of St Paul’s Bay in libel damages over a conflict of interest claim.

Graziella Galea won the compensation after the court found that a claim that she had not declared her conflict of interest when the council awarded a waste collection tender to her uncle had been libellous. The claim was made on Labour’s One Television on 28 and 29 February, 2012, in the run up to the 10 March, 2012 local council election.

Magistrate Franco Depasquale found that although the report was based on facts, the station had deliberately given the impression that this was a case of nepotism. The court heard that, contrary to allegations, when the issue was tabled for discussion at a council meeting, Ms Galea had immediately declared a possible conflict of interest, given that one of the bidders, Vella Jo Company Limited, owned by Joseph Vella, was her uncle. It emerged that councillors present for the meeting had agreed that Ms Galea’s declaration of a conflict of interest was not needed and proceeded to approve the bid submitted by Mr Vella’s company.

In view of the above, one expects both Kurt Farrugia and Charlon Gouder to submit their resignation due to what proved to be a sordid, premeditated attempt at slander and character assassination.

Edward Torpiano

Floriana