Couple forge birth certificate to protect unmarried mother

A court yesterday ordered a correction to a birth certificate after hearing that a woman had falsely declared herself the natural mother of a child to protect the real 17-year-old mother who had the baby out of wedlock and required help because of her religion.

This judgment was delivered by Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco in the case filed by the Director of Public Registry against three individuals.

The director told the court that last June the Director of Health, Ray Cachia, had filed a police report as he was concerned about the manner in which a baby's birth had been registered.

Dr Cachia told the police that the Public Registry had pointed out a discrepancy in the note of birth of the baby with regard to the mother's particulars and that the midwife's signature had been falsified.

The baby boy was born last May and, later that month, a couple had registered the birth, with the woman declaring she was the child's natural mother.

Both individuals admitted to the police they had falsified the hospital documentation about the birth of the baby but had done so to protect the child's natural mother, who was 17 years old when she had the baby.

According to the couple, the natural mother needed help as she had had the baby outside marriage and was still a minor. She particularly required help because of her religion.

The court held the evidence of the midwife who had delivered the baby. She said she had delivered the baby boy and had registered this in the hospital's books. However, the birth certificate indicated a different woman as being the baby's mother.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco declared that it was clear who the natural mother of the child was and, therefore, he ordered a correction to the baby's birth certificate to reflect this fact.

Names are not being published to protect the privacy of those involved.