A driver who allegedly called two policemen “the country’s crooks” when he was booked for parking in a tow zone at the airport was yesterday acquitted by a magistrate.

David Ellul, 62, of Qormi stopped his silver Mercedes Benz on a tow zone outside the arrivals lounge on September 8 to check the time of incoming flights.

Police Sergeant Ivan Chetcuti and Constable Louis Borg said in affidavits that they spotted the illegality and decided to issue a parking ticket. Mr Ellul returned when the officers were issuing the ticket. He protested and asked why he was the only one to be booked when other cars were parked nearby.

The officers explained that the other cars were authorised to stop there. They also informed him that if he objected to the parking ticket he could take his case to the traffic tribunal.

The officers said Mr Ellul began shouting and repeatedly told them they were “the country’s crooks”.

Mr Ellul pleaded not guilty to insulting the policemen and breaching the peace.

Defence lawyer Stefano Filletti argued that his client had parked just to check the arrival time of flights and had been out of the car for only a minute when the officers arrived.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona acquitted him on grounds that the officers involved were not summoned to confirm that the words attributed to the accused were actually said.

The magistrate referred to other cars in the immediate vicinity and which were not booked because they were authorised to park there. He noted that nobody was above law before acquitting Mr Ellul.