Man fined for driving over policeman's foot

A Sannat man was yesterday fined Lm150 and banned from driving for three months for running over a police constable's foot two years ago.

Benjamin Sciberras, 48, was found guilty of running over PC Raymond Rapa's foot, slightly injuring him, threatening him and driving dangerously and recklessly in Sannat on May 10, 2000 at about 8.30 a.m.

In a separate court case, PC Rapa, 44, also of Sannat, was cleared of damaging Sciberras' Mini Minor, threatening him and slightly injuring him after Magistrate Giovanni Grixti ruled that Rapa's version was more likely.

Magistrate Grixti heard Scibberas claim that he slowed down because he was approaching a zebra crossing and Rapa signalled him to stop because there were school children crossing.

He claimed that Rapa then walked up to his car and started kicking the door on the driver's side. But Rapa denied kicking the door and said that Sciberras drove over his foot while he was signalling the children to cross.

Magistrate Grixti noted that the constable's version was more likely especially since photographs of Sciberras' car showed that the driver's door was damaged from the inside and not the outside.

Police Inspector Maurice Curmi prosecuted.