A Syrian man was today given a one year jail term suspended for two years after he admitted to making use of false French passports to try to leave Malta illegally with his family.

Nouri Mahmoud Said, 43, residing at the Hal Far migrants centre, admitted to the possession of five forged French passports.

Police Inspector Darren Buhagiar said that on September 24 he was informed that, at about 6am, the accused and his family went to the Seaport and had tickets to go to Pozzallo aboard the catamaran.

At check-in, staff became suspicious about the passports. The family ran away and were eventually found at Hal Far.

The inspector said that this practice was increasing, especially with Syrians.

Lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores represented the accused.

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