It-Torca ordered to pay maximum damages in BWSC libel case

The GWU's Sunday newspaper It-Torca was today fined more than €23,000  in five libel cases. The newspaper was fined the maximum of €11,646.87 in a case instituted by Mita employee Wayne Lee Valentine after the newspaper alleged that while he was seconded to Enemalta, he leaked sensitive information useful to BWSC, which was granted the power station extension contract. Valentine allegedly passed information to a colleague whose father-in-law was the BWSC agent.  The court said this article was the result of gutter journalism and it appeared that the journalist relied on allegations made to him by sources who, when it mattered, could not prove their information. It was also clear that the journalist had not made a distinction between fact and conjecture. This, the court said, undermined the respect which the journalism profession should enjoy, while undermining the reputation of Mr Valentine, who ended up being arrested during police investigations and was also investigated by the Public Accounts Committee. The newspaper was also fined €5,000 each in two cases over an article which implied corruption by Nationalist MP Tony Abela and minister George Pullicino. They filed proceedings...