Graduation before deportation

A 24-year-old Albanian girl caught with an expired visa and working illegally for a chain of jewellery shops has been given permission to stay on in Malta until her graduation, a court heard yesterday.

Lawyer Pio Valletta, who defended Diamonds International over the illegal employment, said Ledia Bimbli was graduating in two weeks’ time and the authorities had given her leave to remain on the island until then.

However, if his client, managing director Paul Fenech, were to admit to illegally employing her, she would be deported immediately, the lawyer said.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella told him she could postpone judgment, giving Ms Bimbli enough time to graduate before being deported.

In submissions on punishment, Dr Valletta said his client was filing a guilty plea but pointed out it was practically impossible for him to know every minor detail about the 200 employees in the large company.

Police Inspector Nezren Grixti said he wanted to be practical so, given that Mr Fenech had ­admitted to the charge, he was asking for the minimum punishment.

Judgment was postponed.