Bright Solomon escapes, errs badly
A Nigerian by the name of Bright Solomon did not show the wisdom his name suggests when he was caught trying to leave the island with documents that were not his.
The 27-year-old from the Edo state in central Nigeria was caught on Thursday trying to leave the island with a Ghanaian passport, an Italian identity card and an Italian residence permit.
Officials at the airport became suspicious and double checked his travel documents before calling the police.
During investigations, Police Inspector Mario Haber found Mr Solomon had escaped from the Hal Safi centre on June 17.
In yesterday's arraignment, Mr Solomon pleaded guilty to trying to leave the island with documents that were not his and escaping from the detention centre.
After taking into consideration his early guilty plea, Magistrate Miriam Hayman handed down a six-month jail term suspended for one year.
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Raymond Sammut
Jul 4th 2009, 18:12
"Officials at the airport became suspicious ..."
surprise, surprise
How can the Maltese people on Malta be expected to show respect to those responsible for law and order and justice in their country? These people responsible for law and order and justice in Malta should not look at their mirror in the morning because one day they are going to wake up and find themselves grappling with a monkey.
David Micallef
Jul 4th 2009, 16:26
@louise vella
I don't know where you actually access your information from and to be frank I'm not really interested, but while you're feeling safe and cozy on this rock, I'm suggesting that you take some time-off from your busy schedule/saga of endless posts re this issue on this newspaper and various other media. Instead, direct yourself to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and check the details about problems in Nigeria, which for some reason you might have 'accidentally' omitted from your 'research'.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/nigeria
In 2007 the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in it's 3rd report re Malta (published April 2008) commented this:
"As concerns the print media, ECRI is concerned at the content of many readers’
letters to the editor. These letters are often not conducive to an atmosphere
where the equal dignity of all is respected or to a balanced portrayal of the
situation as concerns minority groups, especially as their content is rarely
challenged."
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher,COECRI,,,481711e90,0.html
And while you continue with your rants,check what a few million people around the globe are reading about Malta re the issue, in the Human Rights Watch, World Report 2009
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,COI,HRW,,MLT,,49705f98c,0.html
anthea doughty
Jul 4th 2009, 15:42
A Nigerian in Malta? Illegally? Breaking the law to boot! Still in Malta and not deported? Who do these people think they are that they can land illegally on our shores and for us to carry them on our backs..... Are you serious? I am beginning not to feel sorry for you any more. You are tolerating too much. You are not giving out a strong message. Learn from your fellow EU states - look at the crisis Britain is in. You are not far off it!
Joe Tabone-Adami
Jul 4th 2009, 15:35
Official statistics - showing that a very minimal percentage of illegal arrivals in Malta are actually entitled to refugee status - indicate a whole crowd of solomons out there!!
louise vella
Jul 4th 2009, 11:37
A Nigerian, whatever his name, has no reason at all to be in Malta. Nigeria is a vast country with huge oil and other resources. There is no civil war or political persecution in Nigeria. There is corruption and misgovernment. Those are not reasons for anyone to be granted refugee status, a status that is systematically and grossly abused. Mr Solomon should be sent back to his country immediately.