Four drivers convicted over last week's transport strike incidents

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

Johann Cauchi, 28, of Qormi and his brother Martin, 33, of San Ġwann - both taxi drivers - were conditionally discharged for three years by Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona after pleading guilty to violently resisting and disobeying Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Sammut and other police officers in an incident at the airport on Tuesday last week.

Johann Cauchi also admitted to assaulting the driver of a private bus.

The two men apologised for their behaviour.

In a separate case, two bus drivers were handed down suspended sentences and had their tags revoked by the Malta Transport Authority (ADT).

Raymond Pace, 49, of Santa Venera was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, suspended for three years, and Paul Borg, 21, of Attard was given an 18-month prison term suspended for three years after they both pleaded guilty to having formed part of a group which committed a crime outside the Prime Minister's Office in Valletta on July 15 and disobeying police orders. They were also fined €1,165 each.

The decision by the ADT 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 regulator the power "to 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. Although the two drivers received suspended jail sentences of less than three months, the fine exceeds €465.87.

Earlier in the day, another 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 mini-bus driver Lugardo Muscat said he saw six people approaching his van and they ordered him out of the vehicle. None of them hurt him and no damage was caused to his van. He did not recognise any of the attackers in court.

In another case, Anthony Zerafa, 48, of Sta Venera was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and a deposit of €1,000 after pleading not guilty to causing slight injuries to a bus driver, threatening, assaulting and insulting him in Żebbuġ on the third day of the strike.