Men charged with human smuggling

The owner of a fishing boat, the captain and its crew have been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to smuggling 20 men into Malta. The owner, Martin Cachia, 53, from Marsascala, captain, Mohamed Hegazy, 37, and crew Abdou Elbahlawan, 27,...

The owner of a fishing boat, the captain and its crew have been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to smuggling 20 men into Malta.

The owner, Martin Cachia, 53, from Marsascala, captain, Mohamed Hegazy, 37, and crew Abdou Elbahlawan, 27, Mohamed Barakat, 32 and Mohamed Elrawady, 33, all Egyptian and living on the boat Liberty 5 denied the charges.

The boat was intercepted on Monday night and the 13 Syrians, six Moroccans and one Algerian were found hidden inside the hold.

The men were remanded in custody.

 

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