A Syrian illegal migrant burst out crying in court after a Magistrate sent him to six months in prison for leaving Malta illegally. The migrant, who is only 23, survived drowning in the tragedy off Lampedusa on 12 October.

Yones Omar was rescued and brought to Malta, from where he used a fake passport and flew to the Netherlands. He was re-arrested and sent back to Malta. He told Magistrate Giovanni Grixti that he was grateful for having been rescued and brought to Malta and he admitted he had left the island illegally.

Police Inspector Jean Farrugia said that the Maltese authorities were receiving a number of migrants after they escaped from Malta and were repatriated. She also said that the majority of illegal immigrants couldn’t care less in breaking the law.

Meanwhile when Omar heard the Magistrate informing him he would be sent to prison, the migrant, in between sobs and great anger said in a loud voice that if he was sent to prison, he would do something which all of Malta would know about.

Court officials calmed him down and escorted him out.

His lawyer Mark Anthony Mifsud Cutajar filed an application for the migrant to be given psychiatric treatment. He also filed an appeal.