An Egyptian national, who tried to escape to Italy by sea on two occasions, yesterday explained how the man who provided the boat for the second attempt did not know that the vessel would be used by immigrants to flee the island.

Testifying with the help of an interpreter, Yousef Mohamed told Magistrate Abigail Lofaro how he had tried to escape from Malta to Italy, together with other immigrants, last December and again in March.

He explained how the March attempt was carried out on a boat provided by Antonio Abdilla but added that Mr Abdilla and his daughter Dorianne were kept in the dark about the true purpose for wanting a boat.

Mr Mohamed was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Abdilla, 59, and his 26-year-old daughter Dorianne who are pleading not guilty to aiding and abetting immigrants escape from Malta on March 3.

Mr Mohamed testified that he arrived in Malta illegally on a boat loaded with about 200 immigrants last November. He was apprehended by the police and taken to the Hal Far detention centre from where he escaped later that month.

He then went to the open centre in Marsa where he met a certain Mohammed and the two decided to escape to Italy. A few days later Mohammed introduced him to a Sudanese man called Hafis who claimed he knew people who would help them escape to Italy.

During a meeting with Hafis it was agreed that they would escape on a boat. There were to be 14 immigrants on the boat and each would pay Lm250 on the day of the escape, which was to take place when the weather settled.

Mr Mohamed added that Hafis took him to see the boat they were to escape on and that was when he met a certain Dennis, a taxi driver, who provided them with the boat.

Then, on December 19 or 20, the 14 men met in Valletta ready to make their way to Italy. Mr Mohamed explained how they made their way to the shore with the help of another Maltese man called Gordon.

Once they arrived by the sea, Hafis collected the money and gave it to the Maltese men.

The immigrants got onto the boat and sailed out but, about an hour into their journey, they had problems and it was decided to turn back.

The men left the boat on the shore and, the following day, Mr Mohamed said he learnt it had been removed by the police. Although the immigrants asked for their money back it was not given to them, he said.

Mr Mohamed added that a few days later he was re-arrested by the police and taken to Hal Far once again. He was later moved to the Safi barracks where he met Mohammed again and they started discussing another escape attempt.

Eventually, both Mohammed and the witness escaped from Safi and went to live with a friend called Gasem in a Birzebbuga apartment, which he later learnt belonged to Ninu, who he recognised as the accused Mr Abdilla.

Mr Mohamed said he remained in the apartment while Mohammed and Gasem spoke to Mr Abdilla who was to provide them with a boat.

The witness added that Gasem had told him that Mr Abdilla did not know that they planned to escape with the boat and that they did not pay him anything.

Gasem made all the arrangements for a second escape attempt. On the day of the planned escape, public transport was not working so Mr Abdilla's daughter gave Mr Mohamed and Mohammed a lift to Cirkewwa while Gasem got a lift with Mr Abdilla who also towed the boat. Ms Abdilla, he said, did not know about the purpose of the trip.

Once in Cirkewwa, Ms Abdilla left immediately. Then they met other immigrants under a bridge to ensure no one would see them.

The immigrants then left on the boat but about an hour after their departure the boat started taking in water and sank. The immigrants swam towards the shore. They swam for about three hours until they were rescued by the police.

Police Inspectors Jeffrey Cilia and Josric Mifsud are prosecuting.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio is appearing for the Abdillas.