An Ethiopian man was yesterday remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to organising a trip for irregular immigrants to enter Malta illegally.

Hadish Abayu, 48, pleaded not guilty to being the mastermind behind the entry of a boatload of 181 people into Malta on 25 September 2005. He also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to traffic people.

Magistrate Jacquiline Padovani heard the man plead not guilty to the charges brought against him and he was remanded in custody

Police inspector Mario Haber prosecuted while Dr Leslie Cuschieri appeared for the defendant.