Five members of the Federation of Public Transport who are undergoing court proceedings for their part in the violence and chaos last week, were yesterday granted bail against e2,000 in guarantees.

Four of the men are bus drivers while one is a taxi driver. Vincent Spiteri, 48, from Qormi, Jason John Desira, 35, from Zejtun, Aaron Zahra, 27, from Qormi and Shaun Tabone 25, from Marsa, are being accused of stopping a private coach in Marsa on 16 July and detaining the driver against his will.

They are also being charged with congregating illegally with the intention of committing a crime. Tabone was accused of committing a crime while under the operative period of a suspended prison term while Desira is also charged with damaging a car at Pinto Wharf, Valletta, on 14 July.

Robert Dimech, the private coach driver testified before magistrate Anthony Vella yesterday and said that he was taking tourists to the airport. He said that none of the accused had assaulted him. A representative for the tourists backed up this claim. The four bus drivers were granted bail against a deposit of e1,000 and a personal guarantee of the same amount. The accused were assisted by Roberto Montalto, Joe Brincat, Stephen Tonna Lowell and Chris Cilia while inspectors Carmelo Magri and Daniel Zammit prosecuted.

Meanwhile, taxi driver Paul Borg, 21, from Attard, was also granted bail yesterday by magistrate Saviour Demicoli. He is charged with affray at the gates of Castille, although evidence has not been given yet. He is being assisted by Jose Herrera and bail was set against a deposit of e900 and a personal guarantee of e1,000. The five men are part of the group of 22 who were charged in total.