Court told of high-speed chase

A Gudja man was yesterday cleared of filing a false report against a police constable when a magistrate ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charge to the level required by law.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima cleared Darren Gatt, 34, of filing the false report against PC Mark Anthony Buttigieg when he said that the constable spoke to him in an aggressive tone in November 2000.

The magistrate heard how PC Buttigieg was driving towards the law courts in a car, that was not a police car, when Mr Gatt overtook him in a Maltacom company car and shouted out an insult.

PC Buttigieg chased after Mr Gatt who started speeding and, when Mr Gatt eventually stopped, the constable asked him for his particulars. Mr Gatt explained that he had been the victim of a hold-up in the past and when the car, driven by PC Buttigieg, chased after him he panicked because he was carrying some Lm80,000 worth of telecards in the company car.

He added that he did not realise that PC Buttigieg was a police constable as he was wearing a top over his uniform.

Mr Gatt added that PC Buttigieg told him that, had he hit his car, he would have smashed his face. PC Buttugieg denied the allegations.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted.

Dr Jason Azzopardi and Dr Kris Busietta appeared for Mr Gatt.