Escape from Safi 'not difficult'

An Indian man yesterday told a court how he escaped from the Hal Safi detention centre with other migrants and had made plans to leave the island with the help of a Maltese man of Sudanese origin.

Magistrate Anthony Vella heard Indian Hapred Sing explain how he had met Gamil Abu Bakr at the detention centre when he (Mr Abu Bakr) had gone to visit a friend at the centre.

They had come to an arrangement that Mr Sing and other Indian men would escape from the barracks and meet Mr Abu Bakr the following morning in Valletta and he could help them make their way out of Malta.

Mr Sing was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Abu Bakr, 36, who is pleading not guilty to assisting the Indian nationals, who had come to Malta illegally, leave the island on December 5.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Sing explained how "it was not difficult to escape from Safi". He said he managed to get out at night by climbing over the fence.

The magistrate also heard Police Inspector Mario Haber explain how, following the escape, the Indian men had been apprehended at Haywarf as they were trying to leave the island.

Lawyer Chris Cardona appeared for Mr Abu Bakr.