Two taxi drivers were yesterday fined for their involvement in an altercation with German diplomat’s wife in Paceville earlier this year.

The incident started when Moroccan-born woman Ihssane Larhzali, who resides in Sliema, rested against a taxi and two drivers assaulted her after hurling insults.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia said the actions of Fabian Mifsud, 25, from Msida, and Emanuel Tabone, 58, from Fgura were “not tolerated in a civil society”.

He found them guilty of slightly injuring and harassing the woman.

In a separate case, he cleared Ms Larhzali of harassing the two drivers.

Magistrate Farrugia said that, independent of the woman’s links to the diplomatic corps, the men’s actions could have had repercussions on the reputations of both Malta ad taxi drivers.

The incident took place on May 26 at 4.20am when Mr Mifsud told Ms Larhzali to get her “dirty a**” off his car.

She replied she had not damaged his car but the situation escalated and as she reached into her handbag to get her mobile phone Mr Mifsud grabbed her by the hair and started hitting her.

The court noted that while it was evident that Ms Larhzali hit Mr Mifsud where it hurt during the argument, she did so in self defence.

Mr Mifsud and Mr Tabone denied hitting the woman but Magistrate Farrugia said their version was not credible, adding that Mr Mifsud was overcome by anger.He fined Mr Mifsud €1,000 and Mr Tabone €500 after finding him guilty of complicity.

Lawyers Lucio Schiriha and Abigail Bugeja appeared for Ms Larhzali. Lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran appeared for the taxi drivers.