Young motorist claims 'institutionalised' abuse at ADT

An 18-year-old who is being asked to return his driving licence after being found guilty of paying a driving examiner to obtain it yesterday filed a judicial protest claiming discrimination.

Christian Mallia filed the protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court against the Minister for Roads and Urban Development and the Malta Transport Authority (ADT).

He said that, like hundreds of other people, he had paid an ADT official to obtain his driving licence otherwise, like all his friends, he would never have passed the test. It was clear that this abuse was institutionalised and he had no choice but to pay the money requested, Mr Mallia said.

As a consequence he ended up in court and was conditionally discharged for two years. He then received a letter from the ADT asking him to return his licence. Although he was willing to return it, he felt this should apply to all those who had paid for their licence.

He had also heard through the grapevine that a number of people, who had paid for their licence, were not asked to return it perhaps because they had "certain connections". For this reason he asked a member of Parliament to table a parliamentary question to confirm whether all those who were found to have paid for their licence were asked to return it. However, the minister had refused to divulge such information. As a result, he had reason to believe that the ADT was discriminating against him.

Mr Mallia called on the minister and the ADT to provide the information within two days or he held them liable in damages.

Lawyers José Herrera and Deborah Delceppo signed the protest.