A Sudanese man was remanded in custody after he was accused of being the ringleader in an international operation producing fake Libyan driving licences and other forged documents.

Mohamad Kamal Abdul Qalil, 56, was arrested after a lengthy investigation by the traffic branch of the police headed by Superintendent Mario Tonna. The prosecution told Magistrate Doreen Clarke the accused was arrested on Sunday and that the police seized Libyan driving licences, wedding licences, raw materials, forgery tools and empty papers found in Mr Qalil’s room at the Marsa open centre. It is being alleged that Mr Qalil set up an organisation that imported fake Libyan driving licences.

The documents were then translated from Arabic and submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by their ‘holder’.

These were then unwittingly stamped, making them appear legitimate and allowing them to be accepted abroad.

Mr Qalil refused legal aid. He told the court that only God would be his judge. Mr Qalil, unemployed, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, participating in a criminal conspiracy, being in possession of a prohibited bladed weapon, being in possession of the proceeds of criminal activity, committing fraud, making a false declaration to a public authority and possessing false documents.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested bail.

The prosecution objected saying the accused risked absconding since he had contacts in France.

The court denied bail.