Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/554768
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 12 AUGUST 2015 News Mother spends 47 hours under arrest after calling bus driver 'an asshole' Passenger struggled with police after driver requested assistance with the woman, who refused to fold her baby's pushchair MATTHEW AGIUS A court has heard how an argu- ment between a Ukrainian wom- an and a bus driver who refused to let her board the bus before fold- ing a pushchair in which her two year-old child was asleep led to her being detained under arrest for 47 hours and charged with assaulting police officers. Polina Gutshabes, 25, had board- ed a bus to St Paul's Bay from Slie- ma on Sunday afternoon. After picking them up, the driver told her to fold the pushchair to al- low space for more people, as his route was a busy one. When the woman informed him that her son was asleep and the pushchair could not be folded the driver or- dered her to get off the bus and re- fused to refund the fare paid. The woman then insulted the driver in English. The driver then hopped off the bus and ran to a nearby police station seeking assistance. Two officers duly asked the woman to disembark but she maintained her refusal, and the officers, assisted by a female colleague, proceeded to forcefully remove the strug- gling woman from the bus, while her husband and children looked on. Police inspector Elton Taliana charged Gutshabes with assaulting and resisting the police, threaten- ing them, disobeying their orders and disturbing the public peace. He told magistrate Aaron Bugeja how the "hysterical" woman had also allegedly kicked the woman officer in the chest and legs and scratched her. The validity of her arrest was contested by lawyers Giannella de Marco and Steve Tonna Lowell but it was ruled legal due to the alleged use of violence against the police. De Marco argued that there was no reason to remove Gutshabes from the bus in the first place. "What a shame that we keep someone arrested for 47 hours because she allegedly called a bus driver an asshole," said the lawyer, pointing out that it had been the driver who had abandoned the bus when he ran off to the police sta- tion. Gutshabes pleaded not guilty and was granted bail against a €500 deposit and a €5,000 person- al guarantee. The case continues. 'Environment always compromised' – Green NGOs hit out at Muscat's Zonqor decision Environment groups call on Prime Minister to reverse decision to partially construct university at Zonqor, warn future generations will suffer TIM DIACONO ENVIRONMENTAL organisa- tions are uniting in resistance against the Prime Minister's deci- sion to partially construct a pri- vate university at Zonqor Point in Marsakala. "We always speak of compro- mise, but the only thing always being compromised is the envi- ronment," Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar board member John Paul Cauchi told MaltaToday, reject- ing Joseph Muscat's explanation that the current proposal is a scaled-back "compromise" from the original one to construct the entire campus of the 'American' University of Malta at Zonqor. "Every generation inherits a status quo of diminished coun- tryside, and if every generation wants a compromise, in time no countryside will be left." Describing Muscat's insistence on locating part of the campus at Zonqor as "puzzling", Cauchi warned that this decision could pave the way for further develop- ment in the area and questioned why it is not being sited in the abandoned Jerma Hotel site, or on brownfield sites in the South. "We find it easy to give off public land where farmers have farmed for generations, but private land is always sacrosanct, even if it is an unused plot," he said. "In Malta's case, it is these sites that should be considered. We are already the most built-up country in Europe, with 33% of our land taken up by buildings. Next in line is the Netherlands, with 15%. You can do the math." Despite strong opposition from civil society, Joseph Muscat con- firmed on Friday that part of the 'American University of Malta' will "undoubtedly" be built at Zonqor Point. The Nationalist Party, Alter- nattiva Demokratika, Din l-Art Helwa and Front Harsien ODZ were quick to criticise Muscat's decision and other groups who spoke to MaltaToday have now joined what has fast become a public backlash. "Over the last few years, ODZ (outside development zones) sites have been used as a rubber band by different administrations to allow development," a Nature Trust spokesperson said. "This has resulted in more development taking place in our already over- developed lands. It is about time our natural environment be given the attention it has long been call- ing for. 'Obvious that Zonqor agreed upon in original agreement with contractor' The Ramblers' Association ac- cused Muscat of signing off Zon- qor Point for the sake of foreign investment. In a harshly-worded statement, Ramblers' secretary Ingram Bon- din claimed it is obvious that the use of Zonqor was included in the heads-of-agreement that the gov- ernment had signed "with such pomp" with Jordanian construc- tion firm Sadeen earlier this year. "The commitment was for the prime foreshore at Zonqor Point, and there is no doubt about it," Bondin said. "Now the Arab speculator would not consider any other option, in spite of the theatrics of MEPA and the Prime Minister that hundreds of other options were being considered." tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt In June thousands of citizens joined the protest organised by Front Harsien ODZ Polina Gutshabes was ordered to get off the bus by the driver after refusing to fold a pushchair