Saudi hit-and-run driver receives suspended sentence

A 20-year-old student from Saudi Arabia has received a suspended jail sentence and had his driving licence suspended for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to fleeing the scene after crashing a rented car into a wall last month.

Samarkandi Talal Hishami was arraigned before Magistrate Josette Demicoli this afternoon, charged with driving without insurance, damaging third-party property through negligence, failing to stop after a traffic accident and possession of cannabis leaves and resin.

The man was driving a rented Peugeot 208 in Nazju Ellul Street on the morning of the 22 February this year, when he lost control of the vehicle, mounted the pavement and crashed into a house. 

His lawyers, David Camilleri and Joseph Gatt, told the court that Hishami was in an agitated state at the time of the accident, having just been attacked in Paceville by an unspecified number of assailants who also stole his wallet and mobile phone.  

Inspector Jason Francis Sultana told the court that Hishami had fled the scene on foot, leaving a copy of his passport in the car. Further checks on his identity led them to a nearby apartment where Hishami was found, asleep. The court was told that a small piece of cannabis resin was recovered from the apartment, which the accused said belonged to another person. The other person, who is unnamed, could not be traced by police.

The car’s insurance policy was also found to only cover drivers over 21 years of age. Hishami had initially pleaded guilty to the charge of driving a car without insurance cover but his lawyers argued that the car rental firm was ultimately responsible for ensuring that the person renting a car was covered by its insurance policy.

The Magistrate sentenced the man to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18, also disqualifying him from driving for a year. 

MaltaToday is informed that he has since made good for the damages caused to both car and wall.