Unsafe school buses case set over in court in St. John's

A case involving two men charged with 100 violations of theHighway Traffic Act for allegedly allowed unsafe buses to operate on the Avalon Peninsula was set over in court in St. John's Wednesday morning.

Lawyers representing the men requested the matter be rescheduled because they are still awaiting the disclosure of evidence from the Crown.

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The men charged, Island Bus Services director Paul Cummings, 59, and mechanic Brian Kent, 57, were notin court.

According to Service NL, Kent faces 39 violations.

Island Bus Services of Portugal Cove-St. Philip'shas been charged with 22 counts of displaying false vehicle inspection certificates.

Meanwhile, an inspection station on Bell Islandoperated by Island Bus Serviceshasbeen charged with 39 violations, according to Service NL.

The company is alleged to have issued inspection certificates without doing a proper inspection.

Fuel leak, brake lines leaking

Seven of the company's school buses were taken off the road in late October, afterspot inspections uncovered leaky brake lines, a fuel leak, broken safety equipmentand other problems.

The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District subsequently terminated Island Bus Service's contract for two St. John's schools, and suspended its contract for schools on the Avalon's southern shore.

The case is due back in court Jan. 18, 2017.