Immigrant ‘crashed into five parked cars’

An illegal immigrant was yesterday charged with driving his friend’s car while drunk and smashing into five parked cars in Swieqi on Sunday night as he was out looking for something to eat.

Mohammed Ibrahim Halil, 24, a Libyan whose visa has expired, allegedly drove around a corner and lost control, damaging five cars and the garage of a house.

In the arraignment yesterday, Mr Halil denied driving dangerously and without a licence, damaging the cars and the house, drink driving and taking the vehicle without the owner’s permission.

In submissions on bail, Police Inspector Luke Bonello told Magistrate Doreen Clarke that the visa belonging to the accused had expired and that, although he lived with a friend, Mr Halil could not remember the address.

The only detail he knew was that he lived in Swieqi.

Defence lawyer Austin Gauci Maistre said the fact of the matter was that his client did have a fixed address and should be granted bail.

Magistrate Clarke said the accused did not satisfy the requirements to be granted bail and remanded him in custody.