Two migrants jailed for trying to leave Malta

A Nigerian woman was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to presenting a false passport and identity card to the Principal Immigration officer.

Christiana Aisaac, 22, gave false particulars to a public officer and tried to make a false return.

Police inspector Joseph Hersey also told the court the woman had been very uncooperative with the police. She was arrested at the Malta International Airport departures lounges before embarking on a flight.

Meanwhile, a man was jailed for three months after pleading guilty to attempting to leave Malta without a passport. John Essiful, 22, was born in Kacne Town and had been residing at Hal Far Tent Village.

The court was presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera.

Legal aid lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace appeared for the accused.

Man acquitted of sliding hand up a woman’s thigh

A man was acquitted of indecent assault and found not guilty of touching a woman’s private body parts when he had stopped to solve a problem in her vehicle.

The incident happened on 26 July 2008 at 1pm in the limits of Safi.

It occurred that Juanito Sciberras, then 25, was driving a truck through the tunnel, underneath the Malta International Airport runway, in the direction of Kirkop when he noticed that the back wheel of the car being driven in front of him, was loose.

He started beeping the horn and flicking the lights to get the driver’s attention. She in fact stopped and he pointed out the problem.

In his testimony, the man told the court he had realised that three bolts were loose and started to tighten them by hand. He told the driver to tighten them further with a box spanner in her car, while he slid underneath the vehicle to check whether the wheel stabiliser had sustained any damage.

Stephanie Galea, the driver alleged that as he was coming out from underneath the car, he slid his hand up her thigh (as she was wearing a skirt), consequently touching her private parts. She had also alleged the man asked her out at that point.

Mr Sciberras denied the claims explaining he would not have touched her as his hands were dirty. He also asked the prosecuting officer to take finger prints during the initial interrogation.

However, he admitted asking the woman for her mobile phone number and he gave her his. It later transpired the number she gave him was wrong.

The court decided the two versions were completely different. Although it could not be said the woman filed a false report to the police, she could have interpreted things differently.

The court added the man’s testimony was credible. The situation was an unusual one and the man had been giving his assistance.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi presided over the court. Police inspector Carlos Cordina prosecuted.

Elderly man sets nature park on fire

An elderly man, who admitted with the police he was a pyromaniac, was referred for psychiatric assistance at Mount Carmel Hospital after he set fire to a nature park.

On 6 April 2010, Spiru Cini, 65, of Paola set on fire the Riviera Nature Park situated in the limits of Mgarr.

He was also charged with damaging flora listed as endemic species.

The court, presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, called for a psychiatric assessment report. Meanwhile, he will be kept at Mount Carmel Hospital.

Police inspector Edmond Cuschieri prosecuted. Legal aid lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace appeared for the man.