Malta Enterprise sues Independent for libel over helipad reports

Malta Enterprise Corporation has filed a libel suit against The Malta Independent on Sunday over reports carried on the 9 and 30 November 2014, after a badly parked car had to be removed from the perimeter of the helipad adjacent to the Malta Enterprise offices in Gwardamangia to enable an AFM helicopter to land for a medical emergency.

ME said that the newspaper alleged that “one of the government agency’s most senior officials” may have been “the culprit” and that their actions “hindered a medical evacuation” with criminal consequences.

“Malta Enterprise would have preferred to wait for the publication of the findings of an ongoing magisterial enquiry about this matter. In the light of The Malta Independent on Sunday’s very serious allegations, however, Malta Enterprise has no choice but to make the following declaration,” the corporation said.

ME said the car in question was a grey Ford Focus, licensed LCF 606, which does not belong to any ME employee, nor was it leased by Malta Enterprise – however it is leased by Malta Industrial Parks for the general use of MIP employees.

“Malta Enterprise and MIP offices are located in the same building within the footprint of the former St Luke’s Hospital in the vicinity of the helipad. The highest officials of Malta Enterprise and MIP have reserved parking spaces well away from the helipad.

“On Saturday 9 August early in the morning, security at St Luke’s Hospital complex informed the precincts manager of the building which houses both Malta Enterprise and MIP that an AFM helicopter was bound towards Gwardamangia due to a medical emergency.  As LCF 606 was parked in the helipad zone and as the keys to the car were unavailable, the said car was towed away,” ME said.

“MIP was quick to take disciplinary action against its employee – not a management level employee – responsible for leaving the car there the day before, on 8 August.  A charge was issued and he was suspended from work for a week. Given the ongoing magisterial enquiry, MIP decided not to publish any details before the conclusion of the said enquiry. Since the car concerned was not owned, leased or used by Malta Enterprise and given that the said car had not been parked on the helipad zone by any of its employees, Malta Enterprise did not publish any statement relating to the incident.”

Malta Enterprise also denied any attempt to ‘cover-up’ any fact or responsibility. “Malta Enterprise and MIP employees were asked to testify in the process of the magisterial enquiry and they did so under oath.  Any statement or suggestion to the contrary is plainly a lie. Vehicle LCF 606 continues to be used by MIP.”

Malta Enterprise said the unfortunate incident was turned into a political affair in an attempt at tarnishing the reputation of Malta Enterprise and its employees “regardless of their political views.”