Cameroonian admits fraud conspiracy to avoid bail denial

A 37-year-old man from Cameroon was this morning given a two-month jail term suspended for four years after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud people.

Yanou Babo Ullin was searched by immigration police when he arrived in Malta from Paris as he was suspected to be carrying drugs.

But instead, the police found three stacks of black paper cut to the precise size of €500 notes.

Mr Ullin had €900 in cash and claimed he came to Malta to meet a friend and shoot a film on a beach about the way illegal immigrants got themselves into criminality when they arrived in Malta, using the black money scam.

He later changed his version and said he had to meet the friend at an African bar in Bugibba. He could not, however give the bar’s name.

Defence lawyer Patrick Valentino said he did not know how "using magic" for this money scam could be part of criminal proceedings.

However, Dr Valentino said the accused was due to leave Malta tomorrow and did not want to spend three to five months in prison because he was denied bail, so he would rather admit to the crime he was being charged with.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale warned Mr Ullin that if he committed another mistake in Malta in the next four years, he would be sent straight to jail.

The magistrate also ordered that Mr Ullin is detained in custody until he leaves tomorrow and that he is accompanied to the airport.