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MaltaToday columnist Claire Bonello has dropped charges against building developer Charles Polidano after he apologised for slapping her, and bound himself not to molest or harass Bonello in future.
The incident happened on 20 June, after Charles Polidano known as “ic-Caqnu” slapped Bonello for passing a comment in his regard at Le Meridien Hotel in St Julians, and carried on in Balluta square. She passed a comment in jest to his lawyer Beppe Fenech Adami: “Are you with Barons?”
Polidano who was eating with his partner and lawyer slapped Bonello, who was with her daughter, in full view of the general public in St Julians.
At the court sitting presided over by Magistrate Silvio Meli on Thursday, Polidano, who was represented by lawyer Beppe Fenech Adami, said he regretted the incident.
Claire Bonello had pressed charges against him for slapping her, while Polidano filed charges for the comment she passed. Satisfied with this outcome, Claire Bonello withdrew the charges she had filed, and Polidano also withdrew his case against her.
Bonello is a regular MaltaToday columnist who has voiced her concern over the state of the environment at the hands of building developers. She accused the government of paving the way for increased development by increasing the boundaries, coining the slogan “Vote George, get Lorry” – a reference to the notorious Labour minister Lorry Sant’s own planning atrocities back in the eighties.
The government came down like a ton of bricks on the Vote George Get Lorry placard Bonello carried at a demonstration against the boundaries extension, by comparing Environment Minister George Pullicino to Sant. The slogan turned into a symbol of defiance with subsequent copycat phrases such as “Vote Gonzi, get Caqnu, is that better Prime Minister?” and “Vote George, get Worried”, in ensuing protests.
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