Taxi driver fined for calling porter ‘a black African monkey’

A 43-year-old taxi driver from Zurrieq has been fined €300 after being found guilty of racially abusing a hotel porter by calling him a “black African monkey” in front of hotel guests in St Julian’s.

The incident happened on June 11 2013, when the accused, Joseph Camilleri, was outside Le Meridien Hotel in St Julian’s, where the victim, Innocent Lokri, works as a porter.

The court heard how Camilleri berated Lokri for opening his taxi’s doors. Moreover, an argument ensued between the porter and Camilleri, as Camilleri did not want the victim to open the taxi doors. Nevertheless, the court heard that Lokri persisted and a move met with particular disdain by Camilleri who told Lokri “you black African monkey go back to your country.”

The victim told the court that he did not react in order not to embarrass his clients, but insisted that the insults persisted. Offended by the insults, Lokri started to cry and the hotel manager at Le Meridien advised his employee to lodge a police report at the police station.

On his part, Camilleri told the court that he had several arguments with the porter, allegedly because he did not give enough time to speak to his clients and to arrange return trips.

While denying the charges, Camilleri told the court that even though he had warned Lokri several times before, the porter still opened his taxi’s doors, and also alleged that Lokri made a sign as if he [Camilleri] was mad.

In its decree, the court noted that there were two conflicting reports, but held that the evidence of Lokri was more credible. It also said that even though Camilleri’s insults may have been the result of Lokri’s actions, racial abuse cannot be justified.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera found Joseph Camilleri guilty of racially abusing Innocent Lokri and fined him €300. Camilleri was however acquitted of breaching public peace.

Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted.