Minister files libel suit against PN media

Justice minister Owen Bonnici has filed a defamation suit against PN newspaper In-Nazzjon, claiming a report suggesting that he could have been intoxicated at the time of a traffic incident, was “malicious and replete with false allegations”.

Bonnici on Tuesday admitted [VIDEO] that his ministry should have issued a statement after he was involved in a traffic accident during which he was driving his personal car. The police did not issue a statement after Bonnici’s car hit a stationary vehicle at the exit of road tunnels, which in turn hit a motorist who was standing by the car. The man in question was hospitalized.

The PN media today reported that the police were unwilling to answer whether Bonnici was submitted to a  breathalyser test when police arrived on the scene.

According to a Net News report, the police said investigations were still underway.

“It is shameful that the PN media are ready to go down to such levels and make these unthruthful and false insinuations that are completely unacceptable, and serve to damage the reputation of government ministers for purely partisan purposes,” Bonnici said.

The incident happened at around 9pm last Thursday, 3 March, when Bonnici was driving his personal car towards Marsa. Bonnici was driving round the bend just outside the Santa Venera tunnels when he crashed into a car that was stationary and located in a dangerous spot. Bonnici hit the stationary car, which in turn hit the driver who was standing outside his car.

Bonnici said that his primary concern was the man’s health. “I can confirm that after two days recovering in hospital, the person involved was discharged from hospital and is resting at home. I was always in contact with his relatives. His relatives asked for their privacy to be respected and that’s what I did.”

Late on Monday evening, Bonnici issued a statement after the PN media reported that he was involved in a traffic incident that led to the hospitalization of a motorist.

Bonnici issued a statement after maltarightnow.com reported that two men were injured during the incident. 
In actual fact, only one person was hospitalised.

Asked why no statement had been issued by the police’s communications office, Bonnici said he did not “interfere” with police procedures.  “Throughout this whole unfortunate incident, the normal police procedures were followed and I fully cooperated with the authorities. In fact, I will face normal court procedures in a traffic sitting,” Bonnici said.