Four men, including an immigration officer, were charged in court today with involvement  in forging a stamp on a passport.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella heard how three of the men had tried to help the fourth man, an Egyptian, who needed to leave Malta to get operated in his home country. No money was paid for the favour.

The first man to be charged was Egyptian Ahmed Mohamed Mohamed Abougomaa, 28, who was given an 18-month jail term suspended for a year after admitting to tampering with his passport.

Magistrate Vella heard that Mr Abougoumaa came to Malta about two weeks ago with a 45-day visa. According to his visa he was meant to leave the island and return within the first 29 days.

But he was involved in a traffic accident which did not allow him to do so. He suffered a hernia and needed to be operated.

He was worried that if he tried leaving the island, to get operated on in Egypt, he would get in trouble for not leaving within 29 days. So he asked for help.

The other three men were charged in a separate case. These were Raymond Portelli, 53, from Mtarfa, Clyde Joe Cassar, 48, from Birkirkara  - an immigration officer - and Egyptian Sherif Said Mohamed Osman El Sherif, 32, who lives in St Julian’s.

They were charged with conspiring to commit a crime and forging the stamp on the passport. Mr Cassar alone was charged with committing a crime when he was a public official.

Mr Portelli and Mr Cassar admitted to the charges . Mr Portelli was given an 18 month jail term suspended for two years while Mr Cassar was given a two-year jail term suspended for four years. The court also ordered his general, perpetual interdiction which means he can not hold public office.

The case of Mr El Sherif will continue tomorrow.