Tourist brothers in viral reckless driving video plead guilty

Two Polish brothers living in Germany pleaded guilty to charges linked to footage showing one of them driving recklessly around Malta.

David Adrian Lelonek and Arthur Martin Lelonek appeared before Magistrate Ingrid Bianco on Wednesday, after videos of the reckless driving were widely shared on social media.

Police on Tuesday said the driver was tracked down through CCTV footage and arrested in St Julian’s.

The brothers appeared in court together, both wearing shorts and T-shirts. They looked nervous as they glanced between the magistrate and the floor.

Illegal u-turns

David Lelonek, the older brother, faced the harsher charges because he was driving the Kia Picanto seen in the footage.

He was accused of reckless driving, driving without third-party insurance cover and failing to follow road rules. The charges included driving on the wrong side of the road, exceeding the speed limit, ignoring no-entry signs and making illegal U-turns.

Both brothers were also charged under a new law criminalising the uploading of footage of reckless driving to social media.

Arthur Lelonek was also accused of failing to stop his older brother from driving while not covered by a third-party insurance policy.

Both brothers pleaded guilty.

Flight-risk concerns

Defence lawyer Jason Azzopardi asked the court to appoint a probation officer and allow the men to live at a friend’s home for the foreseeable future.

The media was banned from publishing the address or locality of the residence. However, the court was told the brothers had known the friend for around 10 years after initially meeting at a car event.

The friend lives in a rented property, something that raised concerns for the prosecution.

Prosecutors said they “seriously object” to the requested condition. They argued that, apart from the footage showing the reckless driving, the videos could influence others to repeat the behaviour. They also raised concerns that the brothers could try to leave Malta.

The court was told the men were tourists and had a flight booked to Germany on Thursday. Prosecutors also said they did not know where the men’s passports were.

They further noted that the friend did not own the property and would have to confirm the arrangement with the owner.

Azzopardi said the brothers’ passports were in Germany and that there was no reason to fear they would abscond. He also noted that they had admitted to the charges immediately.

“What is done cannot be undone, as Shakespeare said,” Azzopardi told the court.

Magistrate Bianco granted the brothers bail against a €5,000 deposit each and a €30,000 personal guarantee.

They were ordered to live with their friend and were handed a series of bail conditions.

The brothers cannot leave Malta, must sign the bail book at the local police station every day and must observe a curfew at their friend’s home.

They were also banned from driving anything with wheels, including a bicycle.

The next sitting is on July 17. 

The case was heard by Magistrate Ingrid Bianco.

The prosecution was led by Inspectors Nathan Bugeja and Clive Abela.

The defence was led by lawyers Jason Azzopardi, Kris Busietta and Alessandro Farrugia.