Norman Vella Awarded €15,000 After Court Finds He Was Fired From PBS Due To Political Discrimination
Former TVM presenter Norman Vella has been awarded €15,000 in damages after a court found he was removed from the national broadcaster in 2013 due to “political discrimination”.
“In this moment of satisfaction, I thank those who supported my daily and I over the last 11 years, and I forgive all those who insulted me and tried to mock me because they were following instructions,” Vella said.
“I don’t want this victory to be mine alone but for it to become a public cry against all kinds of political discrimination.”
“Political power should never be used vindictively or to punish journalists and workers who don’t bow their heads to intimidation and threats. Politics should only be used as a tool to do good and what is right.”
Vella, who presented the current affairs show TVHemm, was sent to work as an airport border control officer on 1st July 2013, a few months after PL was elected to government.
He opened a case with the Employment Commission in October 2013 on the grounds that his move was the result of political discrimination. Vella testified that then Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat had threatened him before the 2013 election, that “for every blow I feel you are dealing the PL, I will deal you two blows, with all my strength, below the belt, where it hurts”.
A few days before the case commenced, Vella was arrested after he was accused of taking a photo of Muscat’s communications officers Kurt Farrugia and Ramona Attard at the airport and sending it to journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia dismissed the charges.
Former PBS CEO John Bundy testified that then chief of staff of the Home Affairs Ministry Silvio Scerri had personally intervened to endure Vella’s removal from PBS.
Scerri denied this allegation and sued Bundy for libel, but magistrate Francesco Depasquale ruled in favour of Bundy.
Home Affairs Minister Permanent Secretary Kevin Mahoney confirmed that he received political direction for Vella’s removal.
His removal was authorised by then civil service head Mario Cutajar, who testified that Muscat had personally signed it off.
Muscat and Cutajar didn’t summon any witnesses to prove their case
The Electoral Commission, a judicial body, is composed of two members nominated by the Prime Minister, two nominated by the Opposition Leader, and a chairman nominated by the Prime Minister in consultation with the Opposition Leader.
It is currently chaired by Frank Testa, and composed of lawyers Noel Camilleri, Roseanne Sciberras, Roberta Lepre Camilleri, and Alessia Zammit McKeon.
Vella was represented in court by Andrew Borg Cardona and Karol Aquilina.
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