A Moroccan national who resides here was yesterday charged with aiding irregular immigrants in their attempt to escape from Malta earlier this month.

Abdelkader El Khiate, 38, who lives in Naxxar, pleaded not guilty to the charges and insisted that the allegations in his regard were false.

Magistrate Joseph Cassar heard Iraqi immigrant Bashar Alawni explain how he had escaped from the Safi detention centre together with other immigrants and they had all gone to Mr El Khiate's apartment in Floriana.

Mr Alawni said he paid Mr El Khiate Lm500 to help him escape to Italy.

Under cross-examination, Mr El Khiate's lawyers - Anglu Farrugia, George Cutajar and Edward Gatt - repeatedly asked Mr Alawni if they were correct to say he was lying.

He denied inventing the allegations against Mr El Khiate following an argument over a woman.

Answering questions put to him by the lawyers, he insisted he was an Iraqi and not a Moroccan, as the lawyers were suggesting.

Police Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri prosecuted.

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