A man, born to a Libyan couple in Malta 35 years ago, will have his surname corrected on his birth certificate after a court agreed there had been a mistake.

The mistake led to his children born in Malta having a different surname to those born in Libya, even though they were born to the same couple.

Mohammed Ganna, who was born at St Luke’s Hospital in 1979, filed a case in the First Hall of the Civil Courts, against the director of the Public Registry, because his birth certificate in Malta listed his surname as Mohammed.

This was a consequence of another mistake made on his birth certificate – his father’s name and surname were listed as Dwieh Mohammed instead of Edweb Mohammed Ganna.

This meant that, in line with Maltese law, Mr Ganna inherited the incorrect surname of his father and was listed as Mohammed Mohammed.

In the court application he also noted there had been a mistake in the particulars of his mother, who was also listed as having the surname Mohammed.

Madam Justice Lorraine Schembri Orland noted that Mr Ganna had got married in Libya and his marriage certificate, registered in Malta, had the correct details.

This meant there were discrepancies between his birth and marriage certificates registered at the Public Registry in Malta.

To prove his case Mr Ganna produced a copy of his birth certificate and a family status certificate issued by the Public Registry in Libya. He also submitted a copy of his father’s passport.

In light of all this the judge ordered that the mistakes in his birth certificate be corrected.