Updated: Cyrus Engerer backs out of European Parliament elections - says politics were reason for proceedings against him

Cyrus Engerer has withdrawn from the European Parliament elections after he was handed a suspended jail term by a court yesterday. An appeals court found him guilty of computer misuse and distributing compromising pictures of a former partner. Mr Engerer said in a statement that he informed the prime minister of his decision late yesterday. He said that he did not want any bad light to be cast on the Labour Party or the prime minister because of a decision against him which he viewed as unfair.  He said that what he had been through was the result of the decision he took in 2011 to join the Labour Party. One could reach his own conclusions in view of the proceedings against him as well as other actions which resulted in the inquiry ordered by then minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici, he said. He stood by his decision to join the PL saying the country as a whole had needed a change.  He said he had decided to step down because he always believed that politicians should lead by example and shoulder responsibility when the situation so demanded.  Mr Engerer said he would continue to work for the PL to win the European Parliament elections. PN says Engerer should be removed as LGBT rights...