Jailed for trying to leave Malta

Two African immigrants were yesterday jailed after attempting to leave Malta illegally. Nigerian Resent Ederion was sentenced to six months after he tried to leave without legal documents, while his friend from the Ivory Coast, David Ba, was imprisoned...

Two African immigrants were yesterday jailed after attempting to leave Malta illegally.

Nigerian Resent Ederion was sentenced to six months after he tried to leave without legal documents, while his friend from the Ivory Coast, David Ba, was imprisoned for seven months for making use of another man's passport. The men, both 29, admitted to giving false information to the immigration authorities when they tried to leave Malta for Sicily aboard the catamaran yesterday morning.

Mr Ba also pleaded guilty to making use of a passport belonging to a certain Rouben Justin Koury.

Defence lawyer Mark Busuttil told the court the two men were not hardened criminals: "They just want to improve their lives because the situation is disastrous in their countries."

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi heard the case and Police Inspector Joseph Hersey prosecuted.

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