A Syrian man was sentenced to a year in jail, suspended for two, after he admitted to using false French passports to try to leave Malta illegally with his wife and three children.

Nouri Mahmoud Said, 43, who resides at the Ħal Far tent village, confessed to being in possession of five forged passports when he appeared before Magistrate Charmaine Galea.

Police Inspector Darren Buhagiar told the magistrate that, on September 24, he was informed that, at about 6am, the accused and his family went to the sea port to board the Virtù Ferries catamaran to Sicily. While they were waiting to check in, staff became suspicious about the passports. The family ran away but was eventually arrested at the Ħal Far tent village.

The officer said he had not pressed charges against Mr Said’s wife because there would have been no one to look after their children.

He said this type of crime – the use of forged passports – was becoming more and more popular, especially among Syrian nationals. Lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores represented the accused.