A Syrian asylum seeker accused of travelling illegally to Sweden was given a suspended sentence today after having been back to Malta.
Police inspector Mario Haber told the court that Feras Al Haddad, 31, was one of the migrants who survived the 2013 Lampedusa boat tragedy.
Mr Haddad travelled out of Malta illegally reaching Sweden via Germany. He was arrested by Swedish police and after confirming his identity through the pan-European finger printing system was deported to Malta.
Migrants are finger printed in the first country they arrive at and remain the responsibility of that State.
The migrant pleaded guilty to the charges and was handed a six month jail term suspended for two years by Magistrate Charmaine Galea.
Mr Haddad was represented by legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace.