€1,750 fine for motorist who ignored traffic lights, insulted police

Fgura resident Walter Mallo admitted to insulting a police officer after being pulled over for failing to stop at a red light yesterday morning

One Fgura motorist will be thinking twice before running a red light again, after he was fined €1,750 for insulting a policeman who had pulled him over for doing so. 

34-year-old Walter Mallo appeared before Magistrate Monica Vella this morning, charged with failing to stop at a red light, insulting a public servant in the course of his duties and breaching existing bail conditions.

Inspector Jonathan Ransley, prosecuting, told the court that Mallo had carried on driving his Kia Pride through Valley Road, Msida, yesterday morning, through a set of traffic lights showing red. The police constable who stopped the man’s vehicle had also been subject to verbal abuse from the driver for his efforts, added the inspector.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri entered a guilty plea on behalf of the accused, the defence suggesting that a probation order would be the most beneficial course of action for all concerned.

In view of his admission, the court found Mallo guilty as charged and placed him under probation for 12 months, also imposing a €1,750 fine on the man - close to the minimum, given the charges: Mallo faced a fine of up to €5,000 for insulting a public officer and up to three years imprisonment for breaching existing bail condition.