Woman acquitted of trying to bribe driving examiner

Ruth Camilleri, 23 of Rabat was acquitted of attempting to corrupt a driving licence examiner employed with the Transport Authority, after court reject's allegations raised by the examiner.

The case dates back to 29 January 2010 when Camilleri failed her driving licence test for the seventh time.

Saliba alleged the woman had attempted to bribe him, when she put her hands in her pocket.

"I thought she was about to offer me money as through experience I've faced this situation various times", he said.

Taking the witness stand the woman who works as a pharmacy technician, explained how minutes after the start of her test at Hornsworks Ditch, the examiner interrupted the exam, exited her vehicle and left her alone in the middle of the street.

"I had problems to start the car and he helped me. Then he got out, hopped on a Pajero which was driving by and left me there. My instructor came for me after I called him," Camilleri told the court.

In her police statement the woman stated she had rapped the driving licence exam system for not being practical. "It was my seventh fail and it was becoming expensive. I was angry and commented that some examiners pick on small details in order to fail drivers. The examiner reacted badly to my comments, he got angry and left the vehicle. When later I approached him asking a reason for his actions, he refused to talk to me" Camilleri told the court.

After leaving Camilleri in her car, examiner Harry Saliba informed his superiors and subsequently filed a police report alleging the woman had tried to bribe him.

He told investigating officer Pierre Micallef Grimaud the driver had put her hand in the pocket of her jacket and he chose to interpret the gesture as if she was about to offer him money to pass her test.

"I don't remember seeing any money, but for me it was a suspicious move, which could have led to her offering me money. I'm not that type and I was scared as I have been through this before", Saliba told the police.

It is not known if the examiner informed his superiors or filed police reports over the various attempts of bribery he claimed to have witnessed in his line of duty.

However, when taking the witness stand, Saliba amended his version. Under oath he told the court how after driving for about 400 metres Camilleri had offered him euro notes as an appreciation for helping her start the vehicle.

"I do not recall if they were tens or fifties, but they were brown in colour. I left the vehicle and informed her instructor of what transpired. Later I was told that her relatives wanted to talk to me but I refused", Saliba said.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, held there is a conflict of details in the evidence given by the accused and that of the person who alleged the offence.

"Having noted the behaviour of both witnesses while giving evidence, the Court holds the woman's evidence as being more truthful to the events".  Magistrate Demicoli proceeded to acquit Ruth Camilleri of all charges.

Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud prosecuted, while defence lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for the accused.

Since the start of the case the accused has passed her driving test.