[attach id=294381 size="medium"]Labour MP Joe Sammut. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]

Labour MP Joe Sammut was attacked by a knife-wielding driver on Sunday who punched him in the face for no reason, a court heard yesterday.

The details of the incident emerged as Dr Sammut took to the witness stand to describe what he said was an unprovoked attack as he was driving to an afternoon political meeting in Buġibba.

He testified in the case against Phillip Zahra, 41, from Naxxar, who is unemployed and pleading not guilty to slightly injuring and assaulting Dr Sammut.

The MP said the incident happened around 2.30pm when he reached the traffic lights opposite the Luxol football ground and came to a stop. A man he could not recognise got out of his car and walked over to him holding a knife.

Through the window, Dr Sammut asked the man if he was crazy wielding a knife in front of an MP when he suddenly punched him and left.

He said he recorded the number plate of the accused before filing a police report. Asked if the accused had said anything, Dr Sammut said he was talking but he was worried and focusing on the knife so he did not catch what he was saying.

Mr Zahra was very aggressive and was in the company of a woman but she did nothing, he said, adding that as he left he told Dr Sammut “enjoy it once you are an MP”.

During his arraignment yesterday, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera granted Mr Zahra bail against a deposit of €500 and personal guarantee of €2,000.