Immigrant begs court to spare him from jail

A 25-year-old illegal immigrant burst into tears in court yesterday when the magistrate jailed him for six months after he admitted to trying to leave the island with a passport belonging to someone else.

Nigerian national Thomas Solomons pleaded with Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona to at least put him in Lyster Barracks, as he had a severely injured knee and would not be able to cope in prison.

Magistrate Micallef Trigona told him that he would be better off in prison because he would receive the medical attention he needed there.

After Mr Solomons' sobs subsided, the magistrate explained to him that his hands were tied as regards the punishment and he had actually given him the minimum allowed by law.

Mr Solomons had tried to leave the island on Saturday bound for Spain carrying a Nigerian passport and Spanish residency permit belonging to another man, Oken Monday.

He was stopped by Customs officials when they realised that he was not the person in the photos on the passport or permit card.

After taking into consideration the man's impassioned pleas, the magistrate decided to send him to prison as he would receive the medical attention he needed there.

Police Inspector Nezren Grixti prosecuted.

Legal aid lawyer Patrick Valentino appeared for Mr Solomons.