A Moroccan was yesterday conditionally discharged for one year after the court heard him admit to forging a passport to visit his sick mother undergoing medical treatment in Spain but was intercepted in France.

Issam Ramli, 25, told the court that he was on his way to Spain to visit his sick mother in Spain but was stopped in France with the forged passport.

Police Inspector Sandro Zarb, who was prosecuting, said he forged the passport for humanitarian reasons and when he requested the court to hand down a suspended sentence, Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna said a conditional discharge would be enough in the circumstances.

Dr Shazoo Ghaznavi appeared for the accused.