An Eritrean man was slapped with six months imprisonment, suspended to two years after it emerged that he tried to change his identity when his original request for refugee status was rejected.

He was arraigned in court and charged with making a false declaration to the Office of the Refugee Commissioner in a bid to gain humanitarian protection in Malta.

The man could be heard telling Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, presiding over the case, that his refugee status has been denied following five years of attempts because he was born in Ethiopia. He reiterated that despite where he was born, he is from Eritrea.

Prosecuting Inspector Darren Buhagiar said that Alex Teklu Haylemariam had been living in Malta since 2012.

Magistrate Depasquale, taking into consideration the circumstances of the accused, said that while he understands the frustration, this is no excuse to lie to the authorities. For this reason, he handed the accused a suspended sentence and a stern warning.