A prosecuting officer yesterday said foreigners were under the impression that Malta was lenient when it came to forged documents after a Malian pleaded guilty to possessing a fake Italian passport.

Police Inspector Frankie Sammut said police had seen a sudden increase in such cases.

Coulibaly Moussa, a 23-year-old unemployed Malian who lives in Rome, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale and will be deported to Italy after he is released. Mr Moussa holds an Italian residency permit.

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