Civil damages in the case involving Minister Owen Bonnici following a car accident in April2014 have been set at €66,667.38, a government statement said.

The First Hall of the Civil Court, presided by Mr Justice Lawrence Mintoff, issued its ruling today.

Minister Bonnici was and is still fully insured and this payment will be made by the insurance company involved, the statement said.

The minister had not filed any objection to the civil damages and this enabled the courts to reach the decision faster, the statement added.

The injured person, Alies Abdulhadi, demanded compensation from the minister for the injuries he had sustained – which he says amounts to a 12% disability.

The car crash occurred on 3 April 2014 outside the Santa Venera tunnels at around 9pm. Upon driving out of the tunnels, Bonnici crashed his Hyundai I20 into Abdulhadi’s Daewoo Matiz, which was parked near the pavement.

Abdulhadi said that his car was pushed forward, that he was thrown into the air, and that he broke his leg.