Updated | Times journalist assaulted, Mizzi pledges action against assailant

Shocking scenes at Nigret as Times of Malta journalist is shoved out of the way after trying to question Konrad Mizzi • Mizzi to take disciplinary action against assailant 

Times of Malta journalist Jacob Borg was assaulted as he tried to question Konrad Mizzi
Times of Malta journalist Jacob Borg was assaulted as he tried to question Konrad Mizzi

Times of Malta journalist Jacob Borg was shoved as he attempted to question minister Konrad Mizzi as he followed the minister to his car to continue questioning him about his role in the Panama Papers scandal.

Mizzi in a statement condemned the incident and pledged to take “disciplinary action” against the man, who works at the Water Services Corporation.

“While I disagree with Jacob Borg’s arguments, I believe that journalists should be allowed to do their job, which is why I answered all their questions [today].”

Mizzi gave comments to the press after inaugurating a water conservation centre in Mtahleb, but walked off before the journalists were done asking questions. While the other journalists were occupied with a separate scuffle that had broken out between a Net News journalist and a One News camera person, Borg chased Mizzi to his car to continue pressing him.

But two men who had followed Mizzi to his car chased after Borg, with one of them shoving him out of the way. At that moment, an aide to minister Mizzi intervened to separate the two men.

The Nationalist Party in a statement expressed solidarity with Borg and reiterated that Malta is now in a political and constitutional crisis. “The time has come for us to unite so that we can take our country back out of this dark alley,” it said.