Father lies under oath to protect son

Joseph Zammit, 56, from Qormi was handed a two-year suspended sentence after being convicted of lying under oath to protect his son, who worked as a warden.

In November 2010, Engelbert Zammit was driving a Skoda Favorit, registered in his father's name, when he was involved in a three-car accident in Aldo Moro Street Marsa. The drivers filled in the bumper-to-bumper forms.

Zammit, who at the time was wearing a warden’s uniform, put in his father’s details and also signed instead of him.

After several attempts to process the insurance claim failed, the police were asked to investigate but it resulted that the details on the form was not of the man who was driving the car in question.

Meanwhile civil proceedings were instituted and notary Alexandra Micallef took an affidavit from car owner Joseph Zammit, recounting his version of events. Under oath, the man claimed that at the time of the incident it was he who was driving the car and not his son.

Inspector Sarah Magri charged Joseph Zammit with intentionally and knowingly lying under oath.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera found the man guilty of perjury and handed him a month’s jail term suspended for two years.

Defence lawyer Jason Grima said he will be filing for appeal.

The man’s son, who at the time of the incident was a warden, is still undergoing separate proceedings.