Sixty immigrants charged

Sixty African immigrants, aged between 17 and 38, were yesterday each conditionally discharged for six months for coming to Malta illegally on Wednesday. The immigrants, seven women and 53 men, pleaded guilty to being in Malta without leave from the...

Sixty African immigrants, aged between 17 and 38, were yesterday each conditionally discharged for six months for coming to Malta illegally on Wednesday.

The immigrants, seven women and 53 men, pleaded guilty to being in Malta without leave from the immigration authorities and admitted not having the means to finance their stay.

The immigrants were:

¤ Five Ethiopian women aged between 18 and 22 and 13 men aged between 18 and 34,
¤ 15 Somali men aged between 17 and 36,
¤ 24 Egyptian men aged between 18 and 38,
¤ 2 Eritrean women aged 22, and
¤ 1 Djibouti aged 23.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi ordered the deportation of the Ethiopians, the Egyptians and the Djibouti man but stayed the deportation of the Somalis and the Eritreans after they expressed their intention to apply for refugee status.

The immigrants arrived in Malta on Wednesday on a battered seven-metre fishing boat that was towed into Anchor Bay in Mellieha by the Armed Forces of Malta.

Magistrate Mizzi yesterday also ordered the confiscation of the boat.

Police Inspector Neville Xuereb prosecuted.

Dr Leo Bencini appeared for the immigrants.

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