Caruana Galizia sues Labour newspaper over ‘€2.5 million contracts’ story

Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia  has filed for libel against Kullhadd editor and Labour deputy leader Toni Abela over an article published in the Labour newspaper, and against Freeport CEO Aaron Farrugia over comments he made on Facebook and Twitter.

In her application, Caruana Galizia claimed the article ‘€2.5 miljun f’kuntratti’ (€2.5 million in contracts) published on the front page of last Sunday’s edition – in which it was said that the PN government had awarded over €2.5 million in contracts to a company in which her husband is a shareholder – was “defamatory and libellous”.

The front page of Sunday's Kullhadd newspaper

The Labour organ alleged that Evolve Limited – a company which allegedly includes Andrew Borg Cardona and Caruana Galizia’s husband Peter as its shareholder – was awarded €2.5 million in contracts by the former Gonzi administration.

Moreover, it was also claimed that a few days before the 2013 general elections, the company was awarded €800,000 in contracts, as well as an additional €1.7 million in contracts during the past two legislatures. The article also alleged that successive PN governments awarded a total of 127 contracts to the company – 30 of which were by direct order.

Meanwhile, Caruana Galizia also took exception to Freeport CEO Aaron Farrugia’s comments on Twitter and Facebook.

“€2.5 million in contracts to Daphne/Peter Caruana Galizia and Andrew Borg Cardona by the PN government during these last years. What unites these people is not only their companies, but  also their constant attacks coordinated against the Labour Party,” Farrugia said on Facebook.