Four illegal immigrants trying to leave the island "for a better life" were given suspended jail terms yesterday for using false passports.

The men were on the way to Spain on Monday after they managed to obtain the fake passports from a third person who gave them the documents, which did not even feature their photo but images of people who resemble them.

Police Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri said the men had demonstrated they deeply regretted what they had done and did not understand the implications of trying to leave with a false passport.

"Their only intention was to find a better life," she said.

Imuru Bawa Ridwan, 29, from Niger, Joseph Amoah Barcha, 29, from Liberia, Sana Harruna Hassem, 18, from Burkina Faso and Patrick Achampo, 31, from Ghana, pleaded guilty to the crime.

They all reside at the Ħal Far open centre.

Legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech said he agreed with the officer's arguments, pointing out that his clients had clean police records.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli imposed a two-year jail term suspended for four years.