A taxi driver yesterday filed a writ in the First Hall of the Civil Court against the Malta Transport Authority claiming that he had been denied a fair hearing.
Paul Borg told the court that he was a driver of a white taxi and that he had taken part in the recent general strike called by the Transport Federation.
Together with other taxi drivers, Mr Borg had been arraigned over the commission of a number of crimes.
In the first hearing before the Magistrates' Court, Mr Borg had admitted to the charges brought against him. He had then filed an appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal as he thought he had been given too harsh a sentence.
Mr Borg told the court that the authority had ordered him to return his taxi driver tag, even though the authority had not acted in the same manner with the other taxi drivers who had been charged. He claimed the authority did not observe the principles of natural justice in his case.
The court was requested to declare that the authority acted in an irregular manner and to revoke its decision in his regard.
Mr Borg further requested the court to order the authority to return his tag and to hear the case with urgency.
Lawyers Josè Herrera and Veronique Dalli acted for Mr Borg.
Meanwhile, another court ordered the ADT to return a tag it had withdrawn from a taxi driver following a judgment in which the driver was given a suspended sentence.
Raymond Pace, 49, of Sta Venera was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, suspended for three years after pleading guilty before Magistrate Saviour Demicoli to forming part of a group with intent to commit a crime, and to breaching the peace and disobeying police orders.
Mr Pace filed an appeal before the Court of Criminal Appeal following the judgment as he felt the sentence was too harsh.
He simultaneously filed a judicial protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court against the ADT asking the court to allow him to use his taxi-driver tag until the appeal is decided.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice David Camilleri, upheld Mr Pace's request to use his taxi until the Court of Criminal Appeal takes its decision.