Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco has instituted criminal libel proceedings against The Times over articles relating to an Olympics ticketing sting by the The Sunday Times of London.

However, the Malta Olympic Committee chairman has refused to say whether he is also taking legal action against the British newspaper which made the claims.

“Let me tell you, after what The Times of Malta has written... you turned everything upside down after I spoke clearly... I have nothing to tell you,” he said when contacted.

He later said: “As I have done with The Times (of Malta), I will also take steps against those who wronged me, but at the right moment.”

The articles in The Times, titled ‘No wrongdoing in Olympic ticket sting’ and ‘Minister calls for probe on judge’, reported the allegations made in The Sunday Times of London and sought Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco’s reaction to a conversation secretly filmed by undercover reporters.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco, together with committee general secretary Joseph Cassar, was recorded by the British newspaper talking about tickets allocated to Malta for the 2012 games.

According to the International Olympic Committee, it is against the rules for committees to “offer to buy or sell tickets outside their territory, sell tickets at inflated prices, or sell tickets to unauthorised resellers”.

The case is being investigated by the International Olympic Committee as part of a wider probe following the sting by The Sunday Times of London.

The IOC has refused to say whether Malta has been cleared or whether it acted according to the regulations, as Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco maintains. The judge is also being investigated by the Commission for the Administration of Justice on the recommendation of Justice Minister Chris Said.

In his criminal libel complaint, Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco claims The Times defamed him to tarnish his reputation and honour, contrary to Chapter 248 and article 252 of Chapter 9 of the laws of Malta.