Konrad Mizzi's uncle denies il-Mument conflict of interest story, files libel

Med Sea Shipping Agent director Teddy Vassallo has sued the editor and a journalist for il-Mument for libel over an article which insinuates conflict of interest

Med Sea Shipping Agent director Teddy Vassallo has sued PN news organ il-Mument for libel
Med Sea Shipping Agent director Teddy Vassallo has sued PN news organ il-Mument for libel

Med Sea Shipping Agent director Teddy Vassallo has sued PN news organ il-Mument for libel over an article insinuating that the company had been “specifically hired by the government” because Vassallo is Konrad Mizzi's uncle.

The report, published last Sunday, claimed that the company had supplied and installed eight, 40-tonne anchors used to moor the liquefied natural gas tanker at Delimara inside the Marsaxlokk harbour. The article goes on to claim that one of the companies involved in the supply and installation of these anchors was Med Sea Shipping Agent. 

One of the directors of the company is Teddy Vassallo, who is an uncle to former energy minister – now minister without portfolio inside the Office of the Prime Minister – Konrad Mizzi.

The Office of the Prime Minister had denied the report, dismissing it as “yet another tall tale”, saying the Delimara project was run by the private sector with no government intervention.

Following the report, the government said it had asked Electrogas – the energy consortium which will build the LNG plan as well as run the plant and sell the LNG to Enemalta – to provide an explanation.

The libel application, filed this morning by lawyer Adrian Camilleri against Roderick James Agius as the Editor and Joe Mikallef as the journalist who penned the offending article, describes the article as “libellous and defamatory in respect to both Medsea Shipping Agency Limited and Vassallo,” and asks the court to liquidate damages in their favour.