Jailed for using false travel documents

A 25-year-old illegal immigrant who tried to board an Air Malta flight bound for Italy using false travel documents was yesterday jailed for six months.

Police Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri said Samer Kassim from Mali was stopped at one of the boarding gates of Malta International Airport when an Air Malta employee realised his Italian residency card, passport and identity card were false.

Aided by a French translator, Mr Kassim pleaded guilty to trying to leave the island on Tuesday when in possession of false documents.

In pleas on punishment, the officer said Mr Kassim had not cooperated during the investigations and gave little information about where he had obtained the documents from.

Legal aid lawyer Patrick Valentino told Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna his client was a first-time offender and had a clean police record. There were recent judgments where other immigrants in similar circumstances were given suspended jail terms, defence counsel argued.

The magistrate interjected saying there were no special circumstances in the case and, therefore, the man could not benefit from a suspended sentence. He was jailed for six months which is the minimum allowed by law.