MPT launches investigation after driver ‘refused to stop bus, swore at passengers’

● Bus company trying to identify driver

Malta Public Transport has launched an investigation into reports that one of its drivers refused to let a teenager off the bus in St Paul’s Bay on Sunday evening, while he allegedly also insulted her and her friend.

The Malta Independent was told that, on Sunday night, a 17 year old girl and her male friend, both Maltese, caught the last route 42 bus from Cirkewwa at 9.30pm. As they stepped onto the bus, they politely asked if the bus passes from Mosta, where the young man lives, receiving a brash “yes” from the driver at the time.

The young woman wished to stop at in Mosta Road, St Paul’s Bay, but when she pressed the ‘stop’ button the driver kept going. This went on for another two stops, during which the two passengers began worrying about what was going on.

During this time, the bus driver also failed to pick up people waiting on bus stops, this newspaper was told.

The girl then approached the driver, and verbally asked him to stop as soon as possible. To her surprise, the driver told her “F** off, and go back to your country!”

The youths were, at this point feeling very anxious, not knowing how the experience would end.

The bus driver finally let them off at the limits of Burmarrad, a long distance away from where the woman wished to disembark. This led to her friend disembarking from the bus early from his destination, Mosta, to walk her home due to it being late at night.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Malta Public Transport confirmed that a report had been filed. “The caller did not give us enough details to trace the driver and since the time does not match, it could be any one of the six buses travelling on that route in a timeframe of 45 minutes,” she stated.

The spokesperson said the bus company takes “all complaints very seriously and each complaint is investigated, with certain cases where passenger safety is concerned being given priority. In this case the procedure to identify the driver had already commenced following the telephone call made by the customer. The company follows a disciplinary procedure and CCTV footage is downloaded where necessary.”

The Malta Independent will continue to follow this case for any updates on any disciplinary action taken against the bus driver in question.