Man acquitted of groping charges

The Magistrates' Court has acquitted a truck driver who was accused of groping a woman driver he stopped to help.

The incident happened just outside one of the Kirkop tunnels in the afternoon of Juy 26, 2008.

Truck driver Juanito Sciberras signalled Maruti driver Stephanie Galea that one of her rear wheels was coming off.

When they both stopped, it was found that three of the wheel nuts were loose. Mr Sciberras fastened them and went under the car to check the wheel.

Ms Galea said that as he emerged from under the car he put his hand under her skirt and touched her private parts. She also told the court that while under the car, the accused had invited her for a drink.

The accused denied groping the woman but said they had exchanged phone numbers, and Ms Glea had given him a number which was wrong.

The court said that it could not declare that Ms Galea had filed a false report but she may have formed an impression of what really happened. There was no doubt that this was an unusual situation during which she had come into contact with a person she had never met.

Mr Sciberras was freed of all charges.