A Maltese man and a Syrian national this afternoon were handed a suspended jail term and a fine after admitting to hiding three Syrian refugees in a van aboard the Sicily catamaran.

During their arraignment, a court hear that the refugees had no money to buy the ticket.

Malek Hasan, 22, who lives in Cospicua was given a two-year jail term suspended for four years and a €3,000 fine for his complicity in this act. Mr Hasan was the owner of the Toyota Rav 4 used to hide three Syrian refugees who also pleaded guilty of entering Malta illegally.

The refugees were jailed for a year, suspended for four years. However, they will not serve the sentence here as they will be deported back to Italy. The court also ordered the confiscation of the vehicle.

On his part, 21-year-olf Rennie Fava from Żabbar was sentenced to 18-months in prison suspended for four years and slapped with a €6,000 fine for his involvement, since he was the person behind the wheel.

Inspector Frankie Sammut told the court there was no evidence of human trafficking in this case, as no evidence had been found that these refugees had paid any money. He added that their intention was simply to come to Malta to find a job, but had no money to buy the catamaran ticket.

The refugees walking out of court. Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

The court heard how the day before the Syrian man had made a phone call to Italy from his mobile phone to make the necessary arrangements. The prosecution said that Mr Fava, who has family links with the car owner was asked to go to Sicily and leave the vehicle open, while having a short break in Pozzallo.

This enabled the Syrian refugees to hide in the back of the car under a consignment of mineral water, worth some €250. In its sentence, the court warned the refugees that any further attempt to enter Malta illegally would immediately land them in jail.

“It would have been much cheaper if you had opted to come Malta legally,” the court said.

Lawyer George Anton Buttigieg was defence counsel for the Syrian man and the Maltese national, whereas Simon Micallef Stafrace was legal aid for the refugees.