Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia’s driver, Paul Sheehan, told the police control room that he had fired at a car, and that he had spoken to the minister, within minutes of the shooting incident on November 19, according to phone transcripts issued by the PN's media.
At 9.15pm he said that he had spoken to the minister. He also said he had fired two shots at the car which hit the ministerial car, damaging a side mirror.
But the government in an official statement issued at 11 p.m. said that warning shots had been fired in the air.
The Net TV programme Newsfeed said Mr Sheehan was heard telling the driver of the other car not to get out or he would discharge his gun on him.
PC Sheehan called police headquarters to inform them he had chased a driver who hit the ministerial car. He also said he fired at him.
Just after 9pm, Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit asked PC Ryan Pisani, the constable on duty in the control room, if the car was hit and he told him that both cars were hit.
The Commissioner told PC Pisani to send a low loader and see to it that the driver (Stephen Smith) was taken to the police station.
The Commissioner asked PC Sheehan on the phone what had happened and PC Sheehan said he took out his gun and fired two shots "but not on him". He also said the other car had foreign plates.
Commissioner Zammit called Inspector Alexandra Mamo and told her to go on site to start investigations and launch an onsite inquiry.
The minister is heard in the background asking where the car had been hit.
Insp. Mamo called the Commissioner and told him that the car (driven by Stephen Smith) had been hit by the shots fired by Sheehan. The Commissioner asked her to preserve the site.
At one point, the Commissioner was on the phone at the same time with the official spokesman of the prime minister, Kurt Farrugia and with PC Sheehan. The Commissioner questioned PC Sheehan and passed on the answers to Mr Farrugia.
Commissioner Zammit asked PC Sheehan where he had been parked and PC Sheehan said the other driver tried to run him into the wall.He then chased him. He said the other driver made a go at him with a beer bottle and he fired two shots at him.
The Commissioner asked if this was when he was in the car, and PC Sheehan replied "of course".
Just after 10pm, the Commissioner again called PC Sheehan asking if he was sure of his statement, if he was sure that he fired at the other driver, and PC Sheehan said he was. He also asked him if the shooting had taken place near the national pool.
Just after 11pm, the Commissioner again called PC Sheehan and told him the minister wanted to speak to him. The minister asked PC Sheehan where his mother lived.
The minister told PC Sheehan that his other driver would pick him up from the police headquarters. The minister ended the call with ‘ok siehbi’ (my friend).