GRTU President Paul Abela, and ex Director Vince Farrugia, have been ordered by the Courts to pay the Malta Developers' Association Consultant Michael Falzon €5,000, after the Court ruled in his favour in a libel suit today.

The case was about a press release in 2013, issued by the GRTU immediately after Mr Falzon testified in a criminal case against President of the MDA Sandro Chetcuti, after he allegedly beat up and tried to kill Mr Farrugia, in which Mr Chetcuti was found guilty of causing slight injury.

Mr Farrugia said in the press release at the time that he will take "all necessary action in relation to the erroneous and misleading assertions made, possibly constituting perjury, especially regarding the meetings referred to by the architect Michael Falzon that could not have possibly been held as stated by Mr Falzon."

Disappointed at Mr Falzon, Mr Farrugia insisted that he should have spoken to Mr Chetcuti to get his version of events before testifying against him, citing a mutual bond of friendship and respect shared between the two.

"I am sorry because I expected Michael Falzon to approach me and Sandro Chetcuti together to try and solve the problem, but with his comments and stance taken, he further stoked the fire." He added that he in no way tried to "disparage or slander" Mr Falzon. That being said, it was found that Mr Farrugia was not actually present when Mr Falzon commented, so he was merely commenting on what was reported.

The court ruled in favour of Mr Falzon stating that it is a serious offence to accuse someone of lying under oath, and Magistrate Francesco Depasquale noted that Mr Farrugia admitted to releasing the press release prematurely, without actually knowing what really happened and without consulting Mr Falzon first. The Magistrate also spoke about Mr Farrugia abusing his position of power within the GRTU to attack the defendant and, as such, he was ordered to pay.