Two plead guilty to using false travel documents

A 25-year-old Malian and 35-year-old Ivorian were charged with using falsified documents in an attempt to travel to Malta

Two African men have received suspended sentences after they pleaded guilty to using falsified travel documents to travel to Malta.

Inspector Victor Aquilina arraigned 25-year-old Dirissa Coulibaly, from Mali, charging him with knowingly using another person’s passport and residence permit in an attempt to travel from Milan to Malta. Magistrate Audrey Demicoli was told that the documents were otherwise valid.

Similar charges were laid on Hadi Zaka Diaby, 35, from Ivory Coast, who was also charged with using a counterfeit travel document in a separate arraignment. The prosecution explained that Diaby’s residence permit had expired and was pending renewal.

Legal aid lawyer Leontine Calleja entered a guilty plea for the two men. The men were both handed sentences of six months' imprisonment, suspended for one year.

They will be deported tomorrow.