‘Frustrated’ to work for Arriva, admits to filing false hold-up report

An Arriva bus driver who claimed to have been robbed of €200 by armed men while on duty, admitted to have made the false report because he was 'frustrated' at work.

Espedito Said, 38 of Nadur, Gozo was conditionally discharged by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli this morning, after admitting to filing a false report about a non-existent hold-up.

The incident was reported yesterday, when Said reportedly worked the Gnejna route.

He claimed to have been mugged by two armed men who alighted his bus and demanded he handed the money he had with him.

While none of the day's takings were found to be missing, investigators were not convinced of Said's story, and interrogated him at length in the evening.

He admitted to having made up the story, because he was "frustrated" at work.

He was conditionally discharged for two years.

Inspector Tony Cachia prosecuted.