Apologetic tourist fined after driving a motorcycle in his birthday suit

A 26-year-old man who drove a motorcycle through Pietà wearing only his birthday suit and a crash helmet has been fined €1,200 after also being found guilty of negligent driving. 

Amine El Makhfi, a German national on holiday in Malta, was arraigned on Wednesday morning before duty magistrate Noel Bartolo and pleaded guilty.

Police inspector Ian Vella told the court that a video showing the man riding a motorcycle naked down Triq il-Mimosa was shared on social media.  

Officers called up the owner of the rented motorcycle, who provided the name of the accused.

The court explained to the accused that he was facing a potential prison sentence.

The prosecution highlighted that he had fully cooperated with the police and turned up at the police station out of his own will. 

The defence informed the court that the man was apologising for his behaviour.

Legal aid lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young added that the man was not aware that in Malta it was prohibited to be “without a t-shirt”. He is due to leave Malta on Sunday. 

The court found the man guilty by his own admission, fined him just over €1,200 and disqualified him from having a driving licence for six months.

Magistrate Noel Bartolo presided.

Police inspector Ian Vella prosecuted. Legal aid lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young assisted the accused.