Magistrate Francesco Depasquele today handed an 18-month sentence, suspended for four years, after a man pleaded guilty to falsifying documents to gain a residency permit in Malta.

The court heard how Arab Ali Khalefa Ali, from Libya, applied for setting up a company at the office of public accountant Joe Sammut. The company was supposed to be one offering cleaning services.

But when authorities received the man's application, they noticed some inconsistencies. The police then carried out the required investigations of the accountant's office and found enough evidence to arraign the man in court.

Defence counsel Leon Bencini explained that this was yet another desperate attempt of an individual trying to flee the chaos in Libya.

Noting the early admission and the cooperation of the accused with the police, the court handed the man an 18-month sentence suspended for four years.

The prosecution has already made arrangements for the man to be sent back to Libya.

Inspector Frankie Sammut prosecuted.