Karim Barboush had filed an application claiming his detention was illegal. He was found living in a Sliema flat 14 months ago and has been in a detention centre ever since.

In his application, Mr Barboush said that although initially the arrest was legal, it was unnecessary for him to be detained for such a long period of time.

He had also applied for the

status of an asylum seeker and twice a magistrates’ court had ruled his arrest to be illegal and ordered him to be released.

The first judgement was revoked at the request of the Attorney General and Mr Barboush was detained once again. Yesterday, after ordering his release for the second time, the Criminal Court revoked the judgement once again and re-ordered Mr Barboush’s detention.

Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano said his status as an asylum seeker is no reason for Mr Barboush not to be detained. “The court must follow legal procedures and it cannot wield power it does not have.”

As a result, the Attorney General’s application was upheld and Mr Barboush will remain in detention.