Tunisian may face justice abroad

A Tunisian man who was on the same boat as 22 illegal immigrants brought to Malta by the Armed Forces on Sunday could be extradited to Italy if the Italian authorities file such a request, sources said.

The illegal immigrants are understood to have told the police they were heading for Italy and the police believe the Tunisian man, who was arrested, was leading the trip.

Police sources explained that since the boat was found some 60 miles away from the island and it was not the man's intention to bring the illegal immigrants to Malta, he could not be charged under Maltese law, according to which he would have faced up to nine years imprisonment.

He could, however, be tried in Libya - the departure point - or in Italy which was the intended destination.

But unless extradition requests are received he is likely to be sent back to Tunisia. It is understood that the police are in contact with their Italian counterparts on the matter.

The Tunisian was repatriated eight months ago after ending up here in similar circumstances. This time, however, he was handcuffed and taken away in an unmarked police car while the illegal immigrants were taken away from the army maritime base at Haywharf in Pieta in a police bus.

The boat they were on ran into difficulties when its engine failed and the Rescue Coordinating Centre in Rome alerted the army after being informed by ships in the area.

An AFM patrol boat picked up the illegal immigrants from the boat 59 miles to the south of Malta and brought them ashore in the afternoon.

The immigrants, 21 men and a woman, are Eritrean. Like the 45 Ethiopians brought in on Friday night, they are likely to be given some form of protection if they apply for refugee status because of civil turmoil in the countries they come from.