A 30-year-old man was jailed for four years for forcing a Dutch woman to give up her citizenship for a Maltese one and marry an Arab so he could live on the island.
Keith Pace, of Marsa, pleaded guilty to threatening to seriously injure Ċettina Kok who holds Dutch and Maltese citizenship, and forcing her to marry Abdalla El Ahmad.
Magistrate Giovanni Grixti heard that Ms Kok had just moved out of her parents’ house and needed to make some money. Mr Pace suggested she marry someone in search of a Maltese citizenship in exchange for cash. She agreed and arrangements were made for her to marry Mr El Ahmad. But she later learnt that for Mr El Ahmad to obtain a Maltese citizenship she would have to give up her Dutch citizenship before she married him.
When Mr Pace heard Ms Kok was unwilling to change her citizenship he and another man threatened to beat her up if she did not proceed with the marriage. She went ahead out of fear and married Mr El Ahmad against her will.
The magistrate took into account the serious nature of the crime and jailed Mr Pace for four years. He was also fined €1,000.
Police Inspector Carmelo Magri prosecuted.