Italian CEO pleads guilty to injuring police officer

Italian CEO Nicola Maurizo Gatti pleaded guilty to injuring a police officer when he ignored traffic diversion insturctions

An Italian man who injured a police officer last night after refusing to follow traffic diversions has pleaded guilty to all charges including attempted grievous bodily harm on a police officer, resisting and disobeying orders, reckless driving and having an expired driving license.

The incident happened just before midnight near Portes Des Bombes when the accused, 53-year-old Nicola Maurizio Gatti, refused to follow police instructions to turn to Notre Dame Ditch instead of proceeding towards Valletta.

Police inspector Sergio Pisani told the court that when police officer Fankie Zerafa approached the Naxxar resident, the latter objected, claiming he needed to pick up his son.

All of a sudden he drove off, hitting the policeman with the side mirror of his car.

He was then arrested near the Valletta bus terminus.

The defence appealed to the court to understand that the accused was in a desperate situation, being a father who felt the need to pick up his son, reminding the court that the incident happened during Isle of MTV, which only takes place once a year.

The defence appealed to the court to also take note of Gatti’s clean conduct.

Magistrate Monica Vella condemned him to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and fined him €6,000 payable in instalments over 36 months. Gatti's vehicle was confiscated, and he was banned him from driving for six months.

Lawyer Yanika Bugeja was legal aid.