Migrants complain Somalis more successful in getting humanitarian status

Immigrants have complained to a police officer they felt discriminated because Somalis seemed to be more successful in obtaining humanitarian status.

Police Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri told Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona the feeling harboured by such immigrants could possibly be the reason why so many of them were trying to leave the island illegally.

The officer made these comments following the arraignment of a Liberian man, Charles Johnson, 32, who admitted to trying to leave the island with false travel documents.

He had told the police that someone in Italy had given him a false Italian residence permit card, an Italian travel document and an Italian identity card.

Mr Johnson was caught at the airport on Saturday with an air ticket to Copenhagen.

During submission on punishment, the prosecuting officer said she preferred that an effective jail term was handed down because Mr Johnson did not help in investigations. She also informed the court that Mr Johnson had not succeeded in obtaining humanitarian status.

The court handed down a two-year jail term suspended for four and remarked that this type of crime had to be stopped. It was at this point that Inspector Camilleri made her comments.