Malian found with false papers remanded in police custody until repatriation

A 22-year-old Malian has been sentenced to 18-months in jail suspended for three months after he pleaded guilty to falsifying documents.

The court was told that the Kone Daouda had been found to be in possession of an invalid Italian ID card and a false passport. Police confirmed that the man had applied for an extension of his ID card, but it was yet to be issued.

Police Inspector Frankie Sammut requested the court award a custodial sentence, adding that Daouda would be repatriated to Italy once he serves his sentence.

However, Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit noted that while crimes of this nature normally merit an effective prison term, a jail term would only worsen the overcrowding problem at prison and would simply be a burden on the system.

Avoiding this situation, the magistrate handed him an 18-month sentence suspended for three, adding the condition that he is to be kept in police custody until he is repatriated.

Lawyer Alessandro Lia was defence counsel.