A man on Sunday pleaded guilty to trying to leave Malta with more than €18,903 in undeclared cash on Saturday, of which the court ordered he pays a quarter as a fine.

According to the law, amounts of more than €10,000 in cash need to be declared by those leaving the island.

Nasr Khalifa Abubaker was on Saturday found - in possession the cash as he was about to board a plane to Libya.

Inspector Brian Camilleri, who prosecuted, said that he was informed that cash control inspections were being carried out at the airport and it was then that the accused was asked whether he was carrying more than €10,000, which he immediately admitted that he did. He then voluntary gave up the €18,903.

Handing down the sentence, Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, who presided over the case, ordered Mr Abubaker to pay a quarter of the sum confiscated immediately.

Lawyer Gianelle Scerri Ferrante assisted the accused.

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