The bus driver who was suspended after a tourist reported he was aggressive towards her will be facing proceedings before the Public Transport Association’s disciplinary board.

The driver was yesterday summoned before the executive committee of the association, which is the public transport provider. It informed him the proceedings against him would start once the tourist returned to Malta to testify, PTA president Victor Spiteri said.

The driver informed the PTA he would be contesting the tourist’s accusations with the assistance of a lawyer, Mr Spiteri added.

Spanish tourist Isabel Reymundo Cuesta reported that on June 29, the driver of route bus 27 to Marsaxlokk insulted her and refused to give her change when she handed him €1 to pay for two tickets that cost 94c. She said the driver even tried to throw her off the bus and she reported the matter to the police.

Transport Malta, the authority, has suspended the driver until his case is heard and the Malta Tourism Authority has offered Ms Cuesta a complimentary holiday to Malta.

Mr Spiteri explained that Ms Cuesta had also sent an e-mail to the PTA regarding her complaint. The executive committee decided to refer the matter to the board of discipline.

As with any fair hearing, he said, for the disciplinary hearing to start, the victim had to be present to testify.

Mr Spiteri said he had been informed Ms Cuesta was returning to the island and would be able to testify before the board.

The board would then move on to hear the bus driver’s version. If found guilty, the board would recommend his licence be revoked.

He added that, if the driver was tried before the law courts, the disciplinary proceedings would not take place since a person could not be tried twice for the same offence.

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