A man who claimed he was driving a car that was involved in a collision, when it was his warden son who had actually been behind the wheel, was today sentenced to a month in jail suspended for two years.

Joseph Zammit, 56, from Qormi, was found guilty of lying under oath in an attempt to cover up for his son, who was actually driving the car and who, at the time of the accident, was wearing his warden uniform.

The accident, which involved three cars, took place in November 2010 in Aldo Moro Street, Marsa.

The three drivers filled in the bumper-to-bumper forms and Mr Zammit's son Engelbert filled in his father's details and forged his signature.

However, no claim was opened despite several attempts to contact the driver and the police were brought in to investigate after it resulted that the person who signed the forms was not the person who was driving the vehicle.

In the meantime, civil proceedings began and notary Alexandra Micallef was appointed by the court to take Joseph Zammit's version of events in the form of an affidavit. In it, Mr Zammit (Sr) said he was driving his car at the time of the collision.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera ruled that Mr Zammit had lied under oath intentionally and knew what he was doing.

Lawyer Jason Grima, who appeared for the accused, gave notice of appeal.

Separate proceedings against the warden are under way.