Muscat agrees with Manuel Mallia in criminal libel case

Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning that Labour candidate Manuel Mallia was within his rights to sue PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier for criminal libel and seek imprisonment.

He said the removal of criminal libel was an issue that could be discussed as part of the constitutional reform being proposed by the Labour Party.

However, when asked whether he agreed with Dr Mallia, who last week said he would sue PN Secretary General Paul Borg Olivier for defamation and seek a prison term, Dr Muscat insisted the law was currently on the statute books and everybody had a right to use it.

"Laws should favour the media but there must also be responsibility," he said when taking questions at the end of a visit to remote gaming company Betsson in Ta' Xbiex.