A court this morning ordered the confiscation of €43,000 belonging to two men from Cameroon after they were found trying to carry large amounts of cash out of Malta.

Tessa Serge Stephen, 32, who is resident in Paris, was found at the airport to be carrying €32,500 when the law establishes a limit of €10,000 in cash which can be taken out of Malta.

A further €30,500 were found in the possession of Tchebo Nyapsi Bernard, 31 as he was leaving for Rome, where he lived.

The two said they had worked in Malta as a car dealer and a singer respectively.

The court ordered the confiscation of €22,500 belonging to Mr Stephen and also fined him €8,125 while €20,500 were confiscated from Mr Bernard, who was also fined €7,625.

During the arraignment, Mr Bernard claimed in court that he had been beaten by a number of policemen at police headquarters and he had suffered injuries to his chest and said.

Magistrate Giovanni Griscti immediately ordered an inquiry.