Cachia Caruana files criminal libel against Labour whip, One TV editor

Malta's former permanent representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana has requested his lawyer to file a police report against Labour MP Joe Mizzi, and Kurt Farrugia as editor of One TV.

In a statement, Cachia Caruana's lawyer Tonio Ellul said he filed the police report earlier today, requesting the police to initiate criminal procedures against Mizzi and Farrugia in view of the allegations made by Mizzi yesterday evening.

"Joe Mizzi's allegations are unfounded, false and tarnish my reputation and are thus libelous," Cachia Caruana added.

The police report was signed by lawyer Joe Zammit Maempel.

In a recorded interview, Mizzi claimed that Cachia Caruana exerted pressure on him to replace the head of the Security Services and also implicated Cachia Caruana in am alleged interference with the course of justice in relation to a cocaine party organised by individuals who were close to Cachia Caruana.

Mizzi's claims were taken up by backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando to substantiate his claims to why Cachia Caruana should be expelled from the party.

This morning was characterised by an exchange of emails between the MP and the president of the PN executive council Marthese Portelli over next Tuesday's hearing.

Portelli yesterday informed Pullicino Orlando that he had failed to give a detailed explanation of his accusations against Richard Cachia Caruana.

Portelli told Pullicino Orlando in an email copied to the press, that the MP's accusations against the former permanent representative to the EU are not explained in a clear and detailed enough manner to allow Cachia Caruana formulate his defence.

In his reply sent this morning, Pullicino Orlando told Portelli, "You will appreciate that it is difficult to compress the testimony of each witness into a few paragraphs. That was why I had suggested two sittings of the PN Executive Committee to begin with."

The Zebbug MP explained that he had imagined that the first sitting would deal with the accusations and the second would be reserved for the 'defence'.

In turn, Portelli accused Pullicino Orlando of "acting in bad faith" because the Zebbug MP did not follow the agreed procedure regarding the hearing of his case against Richard Cachia Caruana.

On the other hand, Pullicino Orlando said that he absolutely failed to understand the reasoning behind what Portelli was saying in the letter.