A lawyer representing two men caught on their arrival in Malta with a total of 10 passports today described as an "administrative blunder" the fact that the authorities require the physical passports to issue visas for people to travel.

Arthur Azzopardi said his clients travelled to Malta with their relatives' passports to be able to apply for a visa so they could visit Malta.

Mosab Iliwi, a 23-year-old who lives in Ħamrun and Najm Ryad, 31, from Paola, were arrested upon their arrival on a flight from Istanbul on Tuesday.

Police Inspector Lara Butters told Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras that while customs officers were searching their belongings, they were found in possession of a total of 10 passports, including theirs.

Dr Azzopardi explained that his clients brought the passports of their relatives to be able to go to the Central Visa Unit in Malta and apply for a visa for them since one of the requisites for a visa to be issued is the actual physical passport.

“This is an administrative blunder, to say the least, because someone cannot enter Malta without a visa and to apply for your visa you need your passport so there is no option but to send it with other people. One of them had his wife's and his children's passports,” he said.

He explained that both his clients were Syrian refugees with subsidiary protection and have been living in Malta for years.
Magistrate Galea Sciberras granted the men bail against a €5,000 personal guarantee.

They were also ordered to sign the bail book three times a week.