Bus drivers keep elderly witnesses waiting

A number of bus drivers booked for overcharging pensioners during industrial action in July yesterday failed to appear in court, sources said.

The sources said that about 100 elderly people braved the bad weather by turning up in court to testify. However, due to the non-presence of the accused, the cases were put off.

The drivers stand charged by the police with making elderly people pay the full bus fare, ignoring the pass which entitles them to a discount, the sources said.

The bus drivers were acting on a directive issued by the bus owners' association in a dispute over demands for higher subsidies, among other claims.

Contacted by The Times, the chairman of the Malta Transport Authority, Charles Demicoli expressed concern that the elderly people had made the trip to court for nothing.

He said the authority was in contact with the police in a bid to arrange for the witnesses to give evidence through an affidavit or else to provide transport arrangements for the next sitting.