The car shot at by a police officer who served as former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia’s driver was moved onto a low-loader by a police inspector, a magistrate was told yesterday.

Although the officer, Gabriel Micallef, was investigated for tampering with scene-of-crime evidence, so far he has not been arraigned. His sister dates Paul Sheehan, the officer who is facing charges of having fired the shots.

An inquiry set up to investigate the shooting incident concluded that Mr Sheehan had fired twice at Mr Smith’s Vauxhall and that there was an attempt to cover up the incident.

This led to Dr Mallia’s dismissal earlier this week.

Mr Sheehan was in a state of panic

Mr Sheehan is pleading not guilty to attempted murder, using violence against Mr Smith, causing voluntary damage to a vehicle, discharging a firearm in a public place and exceeding the limits of his authority as a police officer.

Assistant Police Commissioner Sandro Zarb testified that on November 19 former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit – who was also removed from office in the wake of the inquiry findings – ordered him to investigate the incident and carry out a breathalyser test on Mr Smith.

“When I arrived on the scene, there were several police officers, the minister’s car parked at the side of the road and a Vauxhall on the low-loader. I noticed that there were two bullet holes lodged in the Vauxhall, one under the car’s tail-lights and the other just above the windscreen,” he said.

He said Mr Sheehan told him he had fired two shots, so he instructed two police officers to look for the spent bullets but they returned empty-handed.

Mr Sheehan was in a state of panic and the ministerial car’s GM14 number plate had been removed and placed inside the boot.

Mr Zarb said Mr Sheehan’s gun had been discharged and placed in the car’s glove compartment until police officers arrived.

At the end of yesterday’s court sitting, Magistrate Aaron Bugeja granted Mr Sheehan bail against a deposit of €5,000 and a personal guarantee of €15,000. He was also ordered to sign the bail book three times a week.

The magistrate ruled there was enough evidence for Mr Sheehan to be indicted.

The case continues in January.

Lawyers Michael Sciriha, Lucio Sciriha and Edward Gatt appeared for Mr Sheehan.

Lawyer Joe Giglio appeared parte civile for Mr Smith.