Four Egyptians have jailed a total of 12-and-a-half years after they admitted to smuggling some Arab men into Malta.

Liberty V captain Mohamed Hegazi, 38, was jailed four years while crew members Abdou Elbahlawan, 28, Mohamed Barakat, 33 and Mohamed Elrawady, 34 were jailed two-and-half years each.

The four men opted to admit to the charges rather than stand trial.

The Liberty V was intercepted last year with 13 Syrians, six Moroccans and one Algerian hidden inside the hold.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi appeared for the Egyptians.

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