Two men, from Mali and Ivory Coast, have each been handed a suspended jail sentence after admitting to using false travel documents to travel from Italy to Malta.

Dirissa Coulibaly, 25, from Mali, was charged with making use of a passport and a residence permit which, although valid, belonged to another person.

Prosecuting officer Victor Aquilina explained that the accused used the documents to enter Malta from Milan.

Hadi Zaka Diaby, 35, from Ivory Coast, was also charged with using a counterfeit travel document.

Insp. Aquilina told Magistrate Audrey Demicoli that the accused had a pending application to renew his residence permit and therefore could not currently travel because the permit in his possession was expired.

The court condemned both men to six months imprisonment suspended for one year.

They will be deported tomorrow on the next available flight.

Legal aid lawyer Leontine Calleja appeared for the two men.