Four drivers arraigned over attack on tourist mini-bus

Four mini-bus drivers were yesterday remanded in custody after they pleaded not guilty to attacking a mini-bus full of tourists and holding them hostage.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani heard Joseph Buttigieg, 48, of Marsa, Carmel Axiak, 55, of Swatar and John Attard, 65, of Sta Venera plead not guilty to charges that, on Monday at 10 a.m., they formed part of a group with the intention of committing a crime and of holding a number of people against their will.

In a separate arraignment, Francis Cassar, 42, of Cospicua pleaded not guilty to forming part of a group whose intention was to commit a crime, causing damage to a vehicle at Crucifix Hill, in Floriana, breaching the public peace at Castille Square, resisting police orders and holding a number of people against their will.

Police Inspector Michael Mallia told the court that after a group, including Mr Axiak, Mr Buttigieg and Mr Attard, stopped a van carrying 10 tourists, the driver alighted and ran away in fear. The group of men had to be moved away by the police.

Defence lawyer Chris Cilia, representing all three men, said that Mr Axiak, an official of the mini bus cooperative, had delivered the keys of the van to the police after being told by Superintendent Raymond Zammit to do so. Mr Axiak had not removed the van's ignition keys during the incident but got them from a third party and then took them to the police headquarters out of goodwill.

Dr Cilia also told the court that, on arriving at the police headquarters, Mr Axiak was never told that he would be arrested but was held after he delivered the keys.

On requesting bail for Mr Axiak, Mr Buttigieg and Mr Attard, Dr Cilia said they were hard-working family men that have been in their profession for more than 25 years and were not criminals.

Inspector Mallia insisted that this was a very serious incident involving tourists. Such an incident should have never happened, the officer said, singling out Mr Buttigieg as the instigator of the attack.

Dr Cilia said this has nothing to do with tourists or the tourism sector and the court should concentrate on the actual incident.