Provoked employee faces two-year probation

On Tuesday, Magistrate Scerri Herrera heard how on 22 November, 2008, Camilleri got into a violent altercation with Psaila at the Floriana Hleath Centre. Camilleri also stood accused of damaging government property valued between €116.47 and €1164.49.

The court heard how the incident began when Psaila ordered Camilleri to pick up three persons and take them to Mater Dei. Camilleri however objected, in view of a leg injury.

Psaila nevertheless insisted as he argued that no other staff was available to send in Camilleri’s stead. It emerged in court that Camilleri picked up a piece of wood but was restrained by people around the pair, before

PC 1195 Conrad Debattista testified that, upon being notified of the argument by Psaila soon after, he went on the scene and noticed that the glass of an aluminum door had been broken and found a number of objects on the floor.

In earlier testimonies, Camilleri had maintained that Psaila often picked on him, describing him as a savage, and claimed that he forced him to drive vehicles for which he did not possess a license.

Camilleri stated that his job was one to provide a community service by driving patients to the hospital for treatment, and not that of driving the emergency ambulances.

Camilleri also presented documents showing that he required knee replacement surgery and that he suffered from depression as a result of Psaila's actions in his regard. He added that the time of the incident he was suffering from a back injury and also had family problems due to his son's medical condition.

On the day of the incident, Camilleri insisted that despite his knee's condition, Psaila had wanted him to go with three other employees and pick up a patient who weighed 230kgs.

However, Camilleri admitted to having broken the door and apologised. As a result of his actions, he had been suspended from work on half pay, thus receiving only €355 a month. However he had made good for the damage caused by borrowing €255.

According to a witness, ambulance garage senior foreman Michael Borg, Psaila already faced several charges, nine of which were for not having been present during office inspections, while no reports had been filed against Camilleri before this incident.

In 1993 Psaila was also found guilty of bad behaviour towards his colleagues, on 22 March 1996of having stolen a Dictaphone and in November 1997 of having used foul language with a nursing officer.

In her deliberation, Scerri Herrera said that it appeared that Psaila had several issues with most of the workers, some of which called him insensitive and accused him of unequal treatment. She also added that through his actions, Psaila had put the accused's health at risk.

Scerri Herrera therefore placed Psaila under a two-year probationary period in concluding that Camilleri had been provoked by him.

Bearing in mind that the accused had made good for all the damage he had caused, and in view of that fact that he had spent more than two years on €355 a month and he suffered from mental problems and was receiving treatment for depression and anxiety due to Psaila's behaviour, she considered that this was enough punishment in his regard.