Ghanaian to be deported for falsifying passport

A magistrate has handed a suspended sentence to a 28-year-old man from Ghana, after he was arrested whilst trying to travel using a false passport.

Inspector Frankie Sammut told magistrate Ian Farrugia how, at around 10am this morning, he was informed that a man, arriving from Catania, had been detained as he was found to be carrying a false Italian passport and a genuine, but expired, Italian travel permit.

The court was told that the man had previously been declared an illegal immigrant in Italy.

The man had forged good passport, said the inspector. The numbers were not punched into the paper  purposes. "His photo is there but the particulars are false. He used the name Fah Emmanuel."

The forged passport was exhibited in court and will be used for training. The man pleaded guilty.

Magistrate Farrugia handed down a 6 months sentence of imprisonment suspended for 18 months. The import of this sentence was explained to the accused. James will be deported tonight.

Inspector Frankie Sammut prosecuted, whilst lawyer Leontine Calleja was legal aid to the accused.