Motorist fined over €7,000 for driving without a licence and breaching bail
The 38-year-old told police he was driving to hospital because he felt unwell
A 38-year-old man was fined €7,323 on Monday after he pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and breaching bail conditions.
Matthew Zarb was stopped at a police roadblock in Birkirkara in the early hours of Monday when officers noticed that his car was being driven without lights.
The officers recognised Zarb, who was out on bail. He told them that he was driving to hospital because he wasn’t feeling well. The police noted that his conduct sheet related entirely to driving offences, prosecutors told the court.
Zarb had been granted bail in connection with a case dating back to 2011 and was supposed to be at home under curfew.
The defence argued that Zarb signed the bail book daily and underwent weekly drug tests, since he is a recovering addict.
Zarb pleaded guilty to the charges, saying he believed in honesty and wanted to “stay on the right path”.
Magistrate Tanya Sammut found Zarb guilty of driving without a licence and fined him €500, while also confiscating his licence for one year and eight days.
The court also imposed a second €500 fine for breach of bail conditions and ordered the seizure of an additional €500 held as bail deposit.
A final fine of €5,823.23 was also issued. The court agreed Zarb could pay the fines over three years. The court explained how Zarb was given the "minimum" fine, since he pleaded guilty.
Inspector Joseph Mallia led the prosecution.