Times: Update 2: Bus incident - Driver loses his job and ends up in court

LGBT Labour calls for modern law against hate crime
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120206/local/youtube-footage-shows-fight-between-passenger-and-bus-dispatcher.405637
Monday, February 6, 2012, 15:09; Last updated at 4.52 p.m.

An off duty bus driver who was involved in an incident with a passenger on a bus last Friday is now no longer employed by the company, Arriva said this afternoon.

The bus driver, who was in uniform, was returning home when he was involved in the incident in Floriana.
A video of the incident was shown on youtube.

Arriva said the incident was immediately investigated by its officials and the police.

The video shows how an argument started on a bus and continued outside. The young woman ended up on the ground.

Arriva condemned what had taken place.

"We have a zero tolerance policy for violence and a very clear diversity policy," a spokesman for the company said.

People who commented on the incident said this may have been a case of homophobia.

DRIVER TAKEN TO COURT

Meanwhile the driver has been taken to court and accused of having tried to cause serious injury on two young women, aged 21 and 17.

He was also accused of having caused slight injury, disrupted public order and broken the conditions of a previous release and probation.

He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000. Inspector Kylie Borg prosecuted.

LABOUR CALLS FOR LAW CHANGE

LGBT Labour said this appeared to have been another attack on a gay couple, following closely on a similar incident in Hamrun. It said legislation was urgently needed to deter such hate crime. Such legislation would then lead to a change of mentality, spokesman Cyrus Engerer said in a statement.

He also called for legislation that recognises gay couples.

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