A Nigerian man who tried leaving Malta with a false French residency permit was today jailed for seven months. 

Ben Chidi Nwaeke, 35, pleaded guilty to possession and use of forged documents on Thursday. He was apprehended at the Malta International Airport as he was checking in to board a flight to Madrid. He was trying to leave Malta with a false French residency permit issued in his name. 

Prosecuting inspector Darren Buhagiar told Magistrate Doreen Clarke that Mr Nwaeke did not cooperate at all with the police in their investigation and refused to furnish them with the name of the person who was supplying these fake documents. Neither did he tell police whether he had purchased the fake document from someone in Malta or had it sent to him from abroad. 

But defence counsel Joe Mifsud said his client has, and used, his constitutional right to remain silent, arguing that this can never be used against him. 

After having heard submissions on punishment, with the prosecution requesting an effective jail term and the defence asking for a suspended sentence, Magistrate Clarke jailed Mr Nwaeke for seven months. 

 

 

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