Update 3 | ‘Warning shots’ were fired into Scotsman’s car

Two shots were fired at a speeding car involved in a hit-and-run with the official vehicle of home affairs minister Manuel Mallia by his driver, police officer Paul Sheehan.

The photo published by MaltaToday shows a bullet hole above the rear windscreen, in the car's roof, and another in the rear bumper.

The minister’s car had been parked in Gzira on Thursday while Mallia was, at that time, attending an official function at the police headquarters in Floriana.

The minister’s driver fired two shots at Scotsman Stephen Smith’s Opel Insignia vehicle after it hit the car and then sped away, at around 8:45pm. The driver gave chase.

It was alleged that Smith had been driving under the influence of alcohol, and threatened the minister’s driver with a beer bottle.

In an official statement, the ministry denied media reports claiming Mallia was a passenger in the car.

The ministry said that upon hearing the sound of the impact, Mallia’s driver rushed outside to check what had happened when he realised that the car had been hit and gave chase to the foreigner.

The ministry is claiming that Smith attempted to force the minister’s car, as it gave chase, into a wall in the area of Tal-Qroqq, and that the he threatened the driver with a beer bottle.

Mallia’s driver was then said to have fired “two warning shots in the air” which however, photo evidence shows the bullets lodged inside the car.

Smith escaped from the scene but was later arrested in Msida by members of the Rapid Intervention Unit.

“The man has since been arrested and investigations are ongoing. He has refused to do the breathalyzer test,” the ministry said.

A magisterial inquiry is being held.