Migrant pays fisherman to escape

An irregular immigrant who fled Malta over a year ago after paying a fisherman for his escape was jailed for three months.

Idriss Ali, 19, of Togo, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Myriam Hayman of leaving Malta without a passport in August 2010.

Police Inspector Edel Camilleri, prosecuting, explained that Mr Ali, who had been refused asylum status in Malta, had lived in Germany for almost a year and a half and had established a relationship with a German woman. On his arrival in Malta, he fully cooperated with the police and informed them that he had paid a fisherman to escape.

Ms Camilleri said the police were trying to track down the fisherman.

Lawyer Mark Busuttil appeared for Mr Ali as legal aid.