A 22-year-old man, Kone Daouda from Mali, today pleaded guilty to falsifying documents. He was sentenced to 18 months jail suspended for three years and will be kept in custody until he is sent to Italy.

Police said that the accused was found in possession of an Italian ID card which is not valid and a false passport. The court heard that the man applied for an extension of his ID card but it has not yet been issued. This was confirmed by the police.

The prosecution asked the court to give the accused an effective prison sentence.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit argued that when such crimes of this nature occur she gives an effective prison sentence but added that this will only add to the overcrowding at the correctional facility of Kordin. She said that if he is to be sent back immediately it is a different story. But the prosecution could not commit itself to stating that he would be sent to Italy immediately and that this would happen when an Air Malta flight to Italy is available.

In the end, the magistrate gave him a suspended sentence.

Immigration Police Inspector Frankie Sammut prosecuted.