A British couple's holiday in Malta started on the wrong foot on Wednesday afternoon when a Somali man travelling on their same flight stole their luggage from the conveyor belt at the Malta International Airport.

The luggage contained several items, including €850 in cash. It was recovered and returned to the couple when the man, Mohamed Ibrahim Abubakar, 30, was arrested by the police.

It turned out that he was a refugee and was in possession of a Maltese residency permit.

Before Magistrate Giovanni Grixti, Mr Abubakar pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him and was condemned to 18 months in jail suspended for two years.

Police Inspector Silvio Magro prosecuted while lawyer Joe Brincat appeared for the accused.

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