(Adds conviction of bus drivers)

Two taxi drivers and two bus drivers this morning became the first public transport workers to be convicted in connection with incidents during last week's strike.

Johan Cauchi, 28, of Qormi and his brother Martin, 33, of San Ġwann were conditionally discharged for three years by Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona after pleading guilty to violently resisted and disobeyed Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Sammut and other police officers in an incident at the airport on Tuesday last week. Johan Cauchi was also accused of assaulting the driver of a private bus.

The two drivers apologised for their actions.

Magistrate Micallef Trigona warned the drivers not to commit another crime.

In the other case, bus driver Raymond Pace, 49 of Sta Venera were sentenced to 20 months imprisonment suspended for three years and Paul Borg, 21 of Attard were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for three years after pleading guilty to having formed part of a group which committed a crime outside the Auberge de Castille on July 15, and disobeying police orders. They were also fined €1,165 each.

Sentence was delivered by Magistrate Saviour Demicoli.

Earlier, three bus drivers, Joseph Bugeja, John Attard and Charles Asciak were granted bail against a guarantee of €1,000 and a deposit of €1,000. They are facing charges in connection with an attack on a white minibus in Floriana.

White minibus driver Lugardo Muscat said that he had seen six people coming towards his van and he was told to get out, but he was not injured and no damage was caused to his van. He said he did not recognise any of the attackers in court.