Civil society group Repubblika has disassociated itself with a ‘mafia’ banner put up last night in front of the Times of Malta building in Mriehel.

A photo of a banner with the words ‘Times of Mafia’ written on it started doing the rounds on social media on Saturday.

The newspaper was in the news this week as the compilation of evidence against Keith Schembri – triggered by a magisterial inquiry that looked into claims of kickbacks involving him and former Allied Newspapers managing director Adrian Hillman – got underway.

A court heard on Friday how Progress Press ended up paying $6.5 million extra for printing machines with the money shared between Keith Schembri, Malcolm Scerri and Allied Group directors Adrian Hillman and Vince Buhagiar.

Court testimony given by Inspector Joseph Xerri from the police anti-money laundering unit detailed a complex web of payments made through offshore companies through which the four men benefitted from the profit at the expense of the company.

Repubblika, which has used similar banners in the past, said it ha nothing to do with this “vile” attack.

“When we call out the mafia we apply the term to the criminals, not their victims. It's truly vile of people who continue to deny that Keith Schembri is a tentacle in the mafia that still grips our government, to be now accusing one of Keith Schembri's victims,” it said in a Facebook post.