The tag of two bus drivers who this morning were found guilty by the Magistrates’ Court of committing a crime during last week public transport industrial action is being withdrawn with immediate effect, the Transport Authority said.

Both drivers received a suspended jail sentence and were fined €1,165 each for incidents outside Castille.(see separate story in the news section)

"The decision by the Malta Transport Authority to withdraw their tag – without which they cannot drive public transport motor vehicles – was taken in accordance with regulation 131 (5) of the Motor Vehicles Regulations (LN 128 of 1994) which gives the Authority the power 'o withdraw a tag where the holder no longer satisfies the good repute requirement'. The good repute requirement is lost if the holder of the tag is convicted of a crime liable to a term of imprisonment of three months or more or a fine of at least €465.87," the ADT explained.

Although the two drivers received jail sentences of less than three months, the fine which they received exceeds €465.87.

"It is normal practice that where public transport drivers lose their good repute requirement, their tag is immediately withdrawn," the authority said.