Two Syrian brothers were remanded in custody after one brother attempted to escape from a detention centre and the other tried to help him.

Abdul Majid Tlass, 27, from Tarxien, pleaded guilty, before presiding magistrate Giovanni Grixti, to being an accomplice to helping his brother Abdul Hamed Tlass, 22, escape from the Ta’ Kandja centre on Tuesday.

He also pleaded guilty to breaching a conditional discharge.

Tlass pleaded guilty to the charges of attempting to escape from the detention centre.

Prosecuting inspector Edel Camilleri told the court that Tlass allegedly gave his brother a saw blade hidden inside a banana.

Magistrate Grixti refused remanded both men in custody and put off the case to 23 January.

Police inspector Edel Camilleri prosecuted while Dr Mariella Said appeared for the brothers.