The Barrakka lift attendant who assaulted a German man while on duty has returned to work with Transport Malta but is not deployed at the lift.
Mario Antonelli, 45, was suspended immediately after the attack on February 10.
A Transport Malta spokesman confirmed Mr Antonelli was reinstated after being given a two-year conditional discharge by a court last week, but had been assigned to another job.
Despite reinstating the employee, the spokesman said further disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against Mr Antonelli “in terms of the provisions of the collective agreement”.
He did not elaborate on what this would entail, nor did he respond when asked if Mr Antonelli had been assigned to another job that involved interaction with the public.
Mr Antonelli admitted punching Michael Mertsch, 51, who was taken to hospital and treated for facial bruising and a cut above his right eye.
The punch also broke Dr Mertsch’s spectacles, worth €350.
Mr Antonelli said in court that he punched Dr Mertsch after he refused to pay the €1 fee to use the lift up to Valletta and after he insulted Malta and the Maltese.
Dr Mertsch was not given the chance to give his version in court but he denied insulting Malta in an interview with The Sunday Times, saying he had been the subject of Nazi jibes from Mr Antonelli.
Dr Mertsch, an executive at a Maltese communications company, said he was wearing headphones when he approached the lift and was confused by the lack of signage and because he had not paid on the way down.
Nevertheless, he said he agreed to pay when rudely told to do so.
In fact, he claimed he was holding his ticket in his hand when he was punched for threatening to report Mr Antonelli for his conduct.
Dr Mertsch was particularly aggrieved at Magistrate Carol Perlata for saying in court before sentencing that he had private information that Dr Mertsch was a difficult person.
When contacted about this point, Chamber of Advocates president Reuben Balzan said: “In my opinion he should not have said that but it is a delicate situation and I would not like to say anything else about it.”
Asked if Magistrate Peralta had smeared the victim’s reputation, Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri said he had no comment to make at this stage.
Magistrate Peralta returned to service in the Maltese courts last May after serving for eight years as an international judge in the former Yugoslavia.
Known for making colourful courtroom comments, he made headlines last October when he handed down a three-year conditional discharge to a Mellieħa man who caused serious and permanent injuries to an Australian by intentionally running him over for insinuating he was gay.
The magistrate said at the time he agreed the incident would not have happened without the Australian’s provocation, particularly when one considered the “locality and the mentality of society in that village”.
pcooke@timesofmalta.com