Editor defends comments on Jonathan Ferris

Malta Today managing editor Saviour Balzan took the witness stand on Monday to defend his description of former police inspector and FIAU investigator Jonathan Ferris as “Inspector Clouseau”. 

He was testifying before Magistrate Victor Axiaq in libel proceedings Mr Ferris filed against Mr Balzan over a videoblog in 2017 wherein he had drawn comparisons between Mr Ferris's work when he was still with the police and investigating the oil procurement scandal to that of fictional Pink Panther detective Inspector Clouseau.

“My video blogs contain sarcastic references to characters known to the public. However, I never say that someone is corrupt unless I have evidence,” Mr Balzan said, before moving on to explain how during his time as police inspector, Mr Ferris had investigated Maria Efimova, then a Pilatus Bank employee.

Mr Ferris claims he has been fired from the government's anti-money laundering agency after he started to look into reports by Daphne Caruana Galizia claiming that the Panama company Egrant was owned by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s wife. Both the Prime Minister and Ms Muscat reject the allegations, sparked by Ms Efimova's claims. 

Mr Balzan said Ms Efimova had...