Labour leader sues The Times for libel

Labour Party leader Alfred Sant yesterday sued The Times for libel over a letter published on Tuesday.

Dr Sant filed his writ in the Magistrates' Court against editor Ray Bugeja over the publication of the letter headed "Uphold democracy".

The letter, Dr Sant claimed, contained serious allegations that were false and defamatory such as the allegation that he had gone to the referendum counting hall "accompanied by 20 to 30 persons" who bypassed the normal security channels because they were with him.

The letter also said that their entry into the counting hall was "abrupt and simultaneous" in such a way that they constituted a threat to those who were working in the hall, he said.

Dr Sant denied the allegations and claimed they had been made with a purpose.

He also claimed that the allegation that he had gone to the counting hall accompanied by criminals or that he used force was a blatant lie since he had been assaulted by some journalists.

Dr Sant claimed the allegations had only been made to cause him harm during the electoral campaign.

Dr Pawlu Lia signed the suit.