Examiner Alleges Pressure in Driving Licence Scandal

A Transport Malta (TM) examiner testified in court docket, revealing that he felt introduced pressure from his superior, who told him no longer to make riding assessments difficult for particular applicants.

John Scicluna, an examiner at TM, testified earlier than Magistrate Rachel Montebello in the ongoing case in competition to former TM director Clint Mansueto and former subordinates, Raul Antonio Pace and Philip Endrick Zammit.

The accused are supposed to have ensured specific candidates exceeded their the use of checks, reportedly coaching examiners to “take care” of humans flagged thru ministries or Castille.

All three have pleaded no longer accountable to the prices.

Inside the Alleged Licensing Racket

Scicluna described that Clint Mansueto, then director of the Land Transport Directorate, end up chargeable for assigning riding exams.

The time on the paper stated the exam scheduled for that factor. And the commands were to make certain that the examination for the candidate scheduled at that point would no longer be tough. – John Scicluna

Key Allegations from the Testimony:

• Specific candidates were given simplified take a look at routes, warding off complicated maneuvers like roundabouts.
• Examiners have been predicted to study oral check questions to positive candidates, despite the fact that they might observe themselves.
• If the candidate surpassed, the examiner end up to record once more to Mansueto.
• Failure did now not continuously bring about effects, but there has been an expectation for those flagged candidates to achieve success.

Scicluna emphasised that this end up not a normal workout, and he felt uncomfortable with the undue stress.

Legal Proceedings and Defense Arguments

Mansueto have become suspended in August 2023 from his function as director at TM’s Land Transport Directorate.

The case is being prosecuted via lawyer Abigail Caruana Vella from the Attorney General’s workplace and police inspector Wayne Borg.

The accused are being defended via prison experts Joseph Giglio, Arthur Azzopardi, and Herman Mula.

Public Reaction and Ongoing Investigations

The scandal has raised issues about corruption in Malta’s delivery region and the integrity of the USA of a’s the usage of license tool. Authorities are persevering with to analyze how extraordinary the ones practices were and whether more officials have been concerned.

This case is anticipated to set a huge jail precedent for responsibility inside public establishments in Malta.