Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539305
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWS THE cab driver who crashed into a Santa Venera hair salon was handed a six-month sen- tence, suspended for two years, after he admitted to the charges brought against him on Tues- day morning. 42-year-old Somali national Abdi Salaan Mahamad Abditon Ali was on 10 August charged with driving under the influ- ence, reckless driving and dam- aging third party property after crashing into a hair salon in Santa Venera. Ali previously de- nied the charges but decided to enter a guilty plea after a change of heart. An Elmo Insurance represent- ative testified that the claim for damages sustained by the shop had been duly processed and approved. Elmo, as the shop's insurer, confirmed that the full amount of the assessed loss had been authorised and would be reimbursed in full to the victim. The court had also previously heard that the cab driver caused €10,020 in damages. The rep- resentative further presented a document showing a very mar- ginal adjustment to the assessed damages. The court heard that repairs are currently underway and once the fiscal receipts are sub- mitted, settlement will follow. In the previous sitting, a repre- sentative from MAPFRE Insur- ance clarified that since Ali was over the alcohol limit, neither he nor the policyholder would be covered for the crash. In this case, the insurance company still had an obligation towards the shop owner. Mapfre would proceed once it received the necessary details and confirmation from Elmo, a process which was confirmed to have been completed in court on Tuesday. The company will later seek recovery of the funds directly from the accused. Ali pleads guilty The accused entered a guilty plea and stated that he does not wish to testify. In submissions for punishment, the prosecution stressed that the accused had been entrusted with the safety of civilians while on duty and that his actions placed others at risk while also causing extensive damage to the victim's salon. Lawyer Zack Esmail suggested that the case did not merit an effective prison sentence, point- ing out that the damages were going to be covered by insur- ance and that the victim's inter- ests were safeguarded. Defence lawyer Francesca Zarb acknowledged the emo- tional toll on the injured party, but stressed that the accused had cooperated fully with po- lice. Zarb described the case as a "pitiful" incident, explain- ing that the accused, who has been living in Malta for several years with his wife and children, deeply regretted his actions. She urged the court to consid- er an alternative punishment rather than an effective impris- onment term, particularly since the civil aspect of the case has been settled and the court will have a piece of mind that the parte civile will be fully reim- bursed. Zarb further submitted that the law itself expressly al- lows for the possibility of im- posing an alternative punish- ment. After a short pause, Magistrate Victor Axiak found Ali guilty by his own admission and hand- ed him a six-month effective prison term, suspended for two years. Ali was fined €2,000 and had his licence suspended for nine months. The magistrate said: "It was by sheer luck and grace of god that there was no fatalities". Inspectors Nathan Bugeja and Rachel Aquilina prosecuted, while lawyer Francesca Zarb represented the accused. Lawyers Zack Esmail and Kay- leigh Borg appeared for the vic- tim. The case was presided over by Magistrate Victor Axiak. MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt Accused in Santa Venera hair salon cab crash enters guilty plea Man threatened to kill partner with screwdriver if they did not have sex, court hears A 32-year-old man from Mo- sta was remanded in custo- dy after he pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges against his partner. The accused man was charged with causing his part- ner to fear that violence would be used against her. He was further accused of assaulting and threatening her and for making insults through the use of electronic devices. The incident ensued follow- ing an argument between the couple while at the Naxxar feast. Tensions began after the woman went to the Naxxar Labour Band Cub without the accused, which sparked an ar- gument. Once the couple returned home, the man allegedly de- manded sexual relations. When the woman refused, he became enraged, threatening to kill her and "open her up" while brandishing a screwdriv- er. Inspector Christian Cauchi further told the court that the man repeatedly insulted her, calling her a "clown" and threatened her various times. A bail request was made. In- spector Christian Cauchi op- posed it due to the risk of con- tamination of evidence. Defence lawyer Nicholas Mifsud stated that the case in- volves only one victim and that she will testify on the same facts already documented by the inspector. He argued that the victim resides in a separate residence than the man, locat- ed far away from him. "The court should simply or- der the defendant not to ap- proach that area", the defence contended. Mifsud further argued that the incident in question relat- ed to a specific event and that there were no previous report- ed incidents unlike other cas- es. The lawyer added that the accused man would risk losing his job and that maintenance obligations would accumulate, resulting in financial hardship. The court denied the man bail given that the proceedings are still at an early stage and in view of the seriousness of the charges. A probation officer was appointed to place the man under supervision and a protection order was issued. Inspector Christian Cauchi prosecuted the case. Defence lawyer Nicholas Mifsud appeared for the man. Magistrate Marseann Farrugia presided over the sitting. MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt Accused allegedly threatened to 'open her up' while brandishing a screwdriver if the victim did not have sex with him Court building in Valletta (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)