Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia was yesterday fined €35 for disobeying a warden who was directing traffic on a busy road.

Ms Caruana Galizia was, however, acquitted by Magistrate Ian Farrugia of driving carelessly, threatening warden Graziella Buhagiar, preventing her from doing her job, assaulting her and breaching the peace last June 21.

The incident occurred when Ms Caruana Galizia was driving from San Ġwann towards Mrabat Street, in St Julian’s and noticed a traffic jam. A sports utility vehicle and a tourist coach were driving in front of her and she followed them. All of a sudden, the warden directing traffic as a ladder lift was delivering furniture to a flat started shouting and asked Ms Caruana Galizia why she had continued driving when she had signalled her to stop.

Ms Caruana Galizia said she had not seen the warden because she was behind two vehicles that were much bigger than her small Volkswagen. The warden refused to move away from in front of her car and ordered her to reverse, which Ms Caruana Galizia said was illogical because there was a very short distance to drive to clear traffic that was building up behind her.

As it was a hot day, Ms Caruana Galizia said she got out of her car and tried to reason with the warden. She said she realised the warden was hassled but the warden was having none of it and began to wave her hands in Ms Caruana Galizia’s face.