Man out on bail over drink driving without insurance coverage during curfew
He crashed into multiple cars
A 40-year-old Valletta man was granted bail after pleading not guilty to drink driving and breaching bail.
Janis Caruana was arraigned on Friday morning, where he was accused of driving a car under the influence, driving in a negligent manner and without insurance coverage.
The man was also accused of damaging three vehicles and breaching a set of bail conditions imposed on him in 2021.
The man denied the charges.
Police inspector Ian Vella explained that on January 15, police patrolling Marsa were approached by a person who informed them there was a vehicle that had crashed into other vehicles.
The officers went on site and found Caruana at the wheel. It was suspected that he was drunk, and they requested that he carry out a breathalyser test, but he refused.
The officers checked whether the man had any court-imposed conditions, and found that he was out on bail and subject to a curfew. Caruana was arrested at 3.15am.
Defence lawyer Jacob Magri requested bail.
Vella objected, noting that the man had been given an opportunity by another court when he was granted bail, but was found on the street driving under the influence when he should have been home.
He added that the man would have not been arraigned under arrest, had he not been accused of breaching bail.
Magri countered that he has known Caruana a long time, and explained that the man went through different rough patches in his life due to a previous drug addiction issue, which he has since overcome and has rehabilitated himself successfully.
He added there were no civilian witnesses in the case, except for the car owners who did not see the incident but would confirm the damage that their vehicles sustained.
Magri also underlined that Caruana had no pending cases except the one in which he was given bail and was doing really well in his life.
The court upheld the request and granted Caruana bail against a €1,000 deposit and a €5,000 personal guarantee.
He was ordered to sign three times a week, and a curfew was also imposed.
Magistrate Ann Marie Thake presided.
Police inspector Ian Vella prosecuted, while lawyer Jacob Magri appeared for the accused.