Two men from Mali and the Ivory Coast each have been handed a suspended sentence after admitting to using false identification documents to travel from Milan, Italy to Malta.

Dirissa Coulibaly, 25, from Mali, was charged with making use of a passport and a residence permit which belonged to another person.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli heard how Coulibaly used the documents to enter Malta from Milan.

Hadi Zaka Diaby, 35, from the Ivory Coast, was also charged with using a counterfeit residence permit.

Inspector Victor Aquilina told the court that the accused had a pending application to renew his residence permit and therefore could not currently travel.

Magistrate Demicoli sentenced both men to six months imprisonment suspended for one year.

They will be deported tomorrow.

Legal aid lawyer Leontine Calleja appeared for the two men.