Man fined €700 for insulting MP Karol Aquilina on Facebook
Saviour Camilleri given dressing down by court for 'vulgar and offensive' post
A man who insulted MP Karol Aquilina on Facebook has been fined €700 and given a dressing down by a court.
Saviour Camilleri, 64 and from Żabbar, insulted Aquilina in an August 2024 post beneath a TVM News post on Facebook. TVM was reporting on a statement the MP made after a government official was found guilty of drink-driving.
Aquilina, a PN MP, reported the post to the police that same day. Camilleri was questioned that same day in the presence of a lawyer. He admitted to having written the post and said he was willing to apologise.
Police pressed charges against Camilleri, accusing him of misusing electronic equipment. He pleaded not guilty.
The court found that there was conclusive evidence that Camilleri had posted the comment in question, which it described as being “definitively vulgar” and “intended to offend”.
It said that while the comment did not include threats to the MP, it was nevertheless a “vulgar and degrading” message that constituted a criminal offence, according to case law.
Magistrate Jean Paul Grech also told off Camilleri and others who misused social media to insult others.
“Unfortunately, it seems to have become commonplace for people to feel they have a free hand to insult others from behind a screen,” the court said. “The right to criticise does not give one the right to offend and use obscene language against someone. The comment made by the accused certainly cannot be considered free speech or constructive criticism – it is just vulgar, rude and offensive language that nobody merits.”
The court fined Camilleri €700 and issued a protection order valid for three years in favour of Aquilina.