A court today cleared a Tunisian man of escaping from the Safi detention centre eight years ago after a magistrate ruled that the case was time-barred.

Magistrate Charmaine Galea cleared Walid Belgasem, 30, who is living in Bugibba, of escaping from detention on October 10, 2006.

The prosecution said that, last week, Mr Belgasem had turned up to collect his belongings from the immigration office. The belongings had been taken from him on his arrival to Malta by boat and a receipt was issued, according to normal practice, so he could collect them once released,

Lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace argued that the arrest was not justified since such cases could not be prosecuted after the lapse of five years.

This plea was upheld by the magistrate who ordered the immediate release of the accused.

Police Inspector Darren Buhagiar prosecuted.