A Somali immigrant admitted in court yesterday to making "a very big mistake" when he sent his friend to sign for him and collect his social benefit cheque.

Ali Farah Ali, 27, had asked his fellow countryman Mohamed Ahmed Mukthar, 19, to collect his monthly cheque from the Marsa open centre for immigrants.

They both pleaded guilty to the charges of falsifying a signature and making a false declaration on June 24 and 26.

Prosecuting Officer Priscilla Caruana explained that the immigrants had to take their identification papers and sign at the centre three times a week in order to receive their cheque. But Mr Ali gave his papers to Mr Mukhtar and asked him to sign in his stead.

"I made a very big mistake," Mr Ali told the court. The two immigrants could not understand Maltese so an interpreter was called to translate the proceedings.

However, while the Somali interpreter was taking an oath, Magistrate Miriam Hayman realised he could not understand Maltese and that another interpreter was needed to translate the proceedings from Maltese to English.

"You see what happens when you rush," the magistrate told the prosecuting officer.

Lawyer Franco Galea, who happened to be waiting for another case to be heard, was appointed interpreter for the Somali translator.

Legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech pointed out that Mr Ali would not keep the cheque for himself but would pass it on to his friend.

Both men pleaded guilty and the court handed down a six-month jail term suspended for one year.