Gozo bus driver pictured 'assaulting passenger' suspended

A bus driver who allegedly assaulted a passenger in Gozo has been suspended pending investigations by the Malta Public Transport.

A spokesperson for the MPT also told MaltaToday that the driver was not trying to hit the passenger inside the bus, who was actually trying to break up the assault.

A photo uploaded on the Facebook page, ‘Waqfet tal-Linja’, shows the driver standing up about to strike a person right outside the bus. The photo also shows two as they attempt to hold him back.

“I can also confirm that the passengers shown in the photo were trying to break up the assault and were not involved in the altercation,” the spokesperson said.

Sections of the media erroneously reported that the driver was about to hit the young man standing in front of him.

The MPT has downloaded the CCTV footage of the incident and is investigating the case. It added that it would cooperate with the relevant authorities as required.

“In the meantime, the driver in question has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.”

MPT went on to add that any violence towards or from its drivers is not tolerated.