Jason Azzopardi claims HSBC does not want Carmelo Abela back as employee

Former MP Jason Azzopardi has claimed HSBC does not want Carmelo Abela to return to the bank, despite still appearing as an employee on its books.

In 2024, a court ruled that Azzopardi had defamed the former minister by linking him to a 2010 heist at the bank which ended in a shootout with police.

The ruling was also confirmed on appeal. 

Azzopardi has now filed a constitutional case, arguing that the libel ruling has a chilling effect on freedom of expression about a matter of public interest.

Abela, a Labour MP, vehemently denies any role in the heist, and was awarded €7,000 in damages in the libel case he brought against Azzopardi.

Azzopardi says in his constitutional application that the lower courts ignored the fact that he had asked for alleged accomplices in the heist to testify about Abela’s claimed involvement.

The courts also "ignored" the fact that the police had confirmed those involved in the heist had an accomplice within HSBC who provided them with the necessary directions and key cards to reach a vault which held millions of euros in cash.

At the time of the heist, Abela was among a select number of HSBC staff who had access to security equipment used to generate the key cards suspected to have been used in the heist.

Azzopardi claimed in his constitutional application that while it appears Abela is still listed as an employee on HSBC’s books, he never returned to work there, even after he stopped being a minister in 2022.

The ex-MP further claims that the bank “does not want him back”, even if he were to ask to return.

Azzopardi contends that his comments about the heist were made in a political context and concerned a matter of public interest, namely whether a government minister was involved in an armed robbery.

The ex-MP said the libel damages awarded were unjustified and disproportionate,  and should be overturned.