Education and Employment Minister Evarist Bartolo has been awarded €2,000 in damages after a court found that an article published in PN newspaper In-Nazzjon was libelous and defamatory.

The article, titled ‘X’qalilna l-għasfur,’ was published on 24 October 2013 and said that a certain number of students were experiencing problems with their stipends and Smart Cards.

It made reference to Bartolo as “the minister who thought of himself as a champion” and also claimed that the chairman of the stipends board was made to resign so that the minister would be absolved of all responsibility after interference in the system.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, found that the minister had never taken any decision to stop certain students from receiving their stipend.

The court found that sarcastic comments to the effect that the minister was making excuses when he said that decision had been taken behind his back was unjust.

The court said the newspaper’s insinuations were baseless and unfounded. Therefore the article was deemed to be defamatory.

Lawyer Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi appeared for Evarist Brtolo.