Updated | Energy Minister sues PN organ for libel

Adds PN statement

Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi has sued PN organ In-Nazzjon for libel after the newspaper alleged one of eight suspended Enemalta employees was close to the minister and suggested the promotion he received was carried out under a Labour administration.

The libel was filed against Alex Attard, editor of In-Nazzjon. The article entitled 'Skandlu minn persuna qrib Konrad Mizzi', was published today. The report described Enemalta employee Louis Attard "as the minister's voice on the district on issues such as the installation on light bulbs". It added that Attard was appointed as a "liaison with the ministry and was awarded a promotion and an allowance increase without a call".

In a reaction, the Nationalist Party said Konrad Mizzi has not denied that Louis Attard was "very close to him" and was "appointed a liaison with the ministry during this legislature".

"Instead of addressing the worry facts of the Nazzjon report, Mizzi chose to file for libel on a secondary issue to give the impression that the report is incorrect. It is clear that the minister is uncomfortable with the fact that a worker entrusted to be the liaison and given an additional allowance without a call, is now being investigated in connection with this scandal," the PN said.

"Minister Konrad Mizzi must be clear and give all information on this scandal that happened right under his nose."

Sources close to Enemalta told MaltaToday that Attard was employed with Enemalta in 2005 on a scale 10 definite contract. In 2010, he was promoted to scale 5 and in February 2013, before the March 2013 general elections, his contract was changed to indefinite.

In the libel suit, Mizzi stated the article was rife with defamatory allegations and untruths aimed at tainting his image.

Laywer Aron Mifsud Bonnici signed the application.