A 26-year-old Libyan refugee has been sentenced to eight months in prison for attempted robbery.

Khalid Eddali was arrested on the roof of a Floriana property in Triq l-Arcisqof Caruana between on August 31. He was accused of attempted burglary and relapsing.

Sporting a large gun tattooed to his neck with the phrase ‘victory or death’, Mr Eddali was arraigned by Inspector Jeffrey Scicluna.

In the sentence, handed down today, Magistrate Joseph Mifsud quoted Pope John Paul II on immigration,which was described as a social phenomenon.

"This problem can only be solved through strong international cooperation, as no country should be expected to solve the migration problem on its own."

The magistrate said the court was shocked at comments on migration on social media. They displayed racism, intolerance and animosity towards human beings who had gone through ordeals.   

The magistrate noted that only a small minority of migrants did not abide by the law, but they were casting a bad light on the rest.

"The court will rule with an iron fist with these few, and encourage the authorities to use the power granted by law to take drastic steps, including their removal from the country," he said.