Updated: Migrants in Sicily stole boat from Malta
The Italian police have arrested three Egyptian migrants who crossed to Sicily on a fishing boat stolen from Malta, according to the newspaper La Sicilia.
The boat was intercepted at Porto Palo yesterday. The migrants claimed they left Libya with 24 Palestinians.
However, the police found no trace of the Palestinians and established that the fishing boat was stolen from Malta.
The Malta police are helping in the investigations.
The three are expected to be repatriated.
Meanwhile, a Sicilian Magistrate has ordered the re-arrest of Joseph Xerri and Kurt Buhagiar to face charges of human trafficking.
They were first arrested last year after having been allegedly intercepted after disembarking 19 migrants. They are being accused of organising migration from Libya to Sicily via Malta.
The Giornale di Sicilia said the arrest warrant was issued by Magistrate Salvatore Giampiccolo.
The two were first arrested after a 90-minute high speed chase off Sicily in September last year and then granted bail.
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John Pace
Sep 23rd 2010, 15:00
http://it.notizie.yahoo.com/4/20100923/tts-oittp-egiziani-roma-ca02f96.html
Immigrazione,falsi certificati per egiziani,oltre 100 denunciati
T Camilleri
Sep 23rd 2010, 14:29
Sean Grima, go to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs website and download as many agreements as you like and see how there are reciprocal agreements for repatriation and other criminal agreements under which illegal immigrant fall.
Main page at
http://www.foreign.gov.mt/default.aspx?MDIS=4210
Serbia - Implimentation of Agreement between Serbia and European Community on Readmission of Persons Residing Without permit - 02 Jul 2010
Bosnia Herzegovina - Readmission of Persons Residing without Authorisation Protocol
- 11 Jun 2010
Montenegro - Readmission of Persons Residing without Authorisation Protocol
- 06 Apr 2010
Co-operation in Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering, Organised Crime, Trafficking in Persons, Terrorism and other serious Crime - 26 Feb 2009
Egypt - Malta Extradiction Agreement - 20 May 2004
Egypt - Malta Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement - 26 May 2001
There are a lot more agreements such as on criminal matters with many other countries under which trafficking of illegal immigrants fall, so stop defending illegal immigrants illegalities sean.
Sean Grima
Sep 24th 2010, 09:22
i do not see the point of your quoting those agreements. they only come into play if an asylum seeker's application has been refused.
Jason Azzopardi
Sep 24th 2010, 12:24
Sean you need to read what camilleri is referring to and then talk.
Sean Grima
Sep 25th 2010, 15:18
(sigh). the fact that malta has a extradition agreement with, say, egypt, does not mean that it can send anyone arriving without a visa from egypt back. s/he must first be allowed to apply for asylum, and only extradited if the application is refused.
Patrick Sacco
Sep 23rd 2010, 13:59
The law should be tough with ALL criminals.
Sean Grima
Sep 24th 2010, 09:22
agreed - including those who incite raicial hatred.
Louise Vella
Sep 23rd 2010, 12:37
Illegal immigrants are always thinking of one thing - how to esccape illegally to Sicily and from there proceed illegally to some northern country. They get into trouble and they get us into trouble. Does Malta need all this?
Sean Grima
Sep 24th 2010, 09:21
what malta does not need is racism and xenophobia, and sweeping statements.
John Azzopardi
Sep 23rd 2010, 11:24
1. Once the egyptians come back to Malta, Malta should have no problem repatriating them due to our agreement with Egypt.
2. I am glad the SIcilian police are doing their job. Human trafficking is against the law and part of the 2 and 3rd EU Directive which at the end of the day supercededs any national la
Sean Grima
Sep 23rd 2010, 14:47
you can only repatriate (deport) people if that is a punishment contemplated by law, if they are found guilty of an offence.
J Borg
Sep 23rd 2010, 11:14
A questian arises, as these are Egyptians....... How did they get to Malta? Do the authorities have any records of their arrival here? Were they normal migrants to Malta? Had they arrived as illegal immigrants? Or were they another lot brought previously by the same boat that was a frequent visitor to the island, loading fish (after unloading Egyptians)?
Sean Grima
Sep 23rd 2010, 14:48
it seems that you know some stuff you should be telling to the police.
T Camilleri
Sep 23rd 2010, 10:16
Let's hope they are repatriated when they serve their sentence.
Sean Grima
Sep 23rd 2010, 10:51
they can only be repatriated (deported) if deporation is contemplayed by the law as a punishment, if they are found to be guilty. the government acts according to law, not the whims and opinions of whoever.
Joseph Sammut
Sep 23rd 2010, 11:17
It has often been said that the law is an %&*!!!
David Bonello
Sep 23rd 2010, 12:07
Hope they are repatriated to their country of origin. We don't even want the ones we have here. That would be the day for a National Feast.
Sean Grima
Sep 24th 2010, 12:53
tkellem ghalik