An Egyptian immigrant who escaped custody from Malta eight years ago but returned a few months ago to regularise his position was this morning given a one year jail term suspended for two.

Police Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri told Magistrate Carol Peralta that Gergis Nadi Saad Fadil, 31, had escaped from the Safi detention centre.

She said that Mr Fadil was a Coptic Christian asylum seeker who feared for his safety should he be sent back to Egypt.

Since his return to Malta, Mr Fadil has been living with a priest in Mosta.

The inspector told the magistrate that Mr Fadil was to be kept in custody because according to law he was an irregular migrant and had to spend an amount of time in detention.

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