Five-year prison sentence for defiling students

The court of Appeal has confirmed a five-year jail term for a minibus driver who was convicted of defiling minors.

Joseph Leone Ganado, 59, had been charged with the defilement of six female students aged under 12. He was also charged with facilitating the defilement of two boys. The students used his services to travel to school.

Justice Michael Mallia said the man was entrusted to drive the students to their destination. While the action could have started as a joke between the driver and students, it escalated to immoral acts in public.

Based on the witnessing of the students themselves, the man's behaviour was not deemed to be a joke by the students.

The Court of Appeal maintained the punishment mitigated by the Court of Magistrates was justified and the rights of the convicted were upheld throughout the case.  

Justice Mallia confirmed the five-year jail term.