Homeless man jailed for theft fears Libya return

A Libyan man sentenced to nine months in prison for a number of charges including theft and living an idle and vagrant life, told a court that he would be killed if he returned to Libya as he was a former Gaddafi supporter.

32-year-old Khaileefah Ahmed Alhaaj Aljeelani Aljamie, from Benghazi, appeared before magistrate Joseph Mifsud this morning, accused of simple theft from a shop in Valletta. He was also charged with causing two women to fear that he would use violence against them, living an idle and vagrant life, breaching conditions imposed by a previous court and relapsing.

Inspector Jeffrey Scicluna explained that the accused had been living on the streets after being kicked out of open centre for attacking people there.

A guilty plea was filed.

During submissions on punishment, it was suggested that the man could be returned to Libya, as the war there was over. “I used to work for Gaddafi, if I go back they'll kill me,” Aljamie told the court.

Magistrate Mifsud handed the man a nine-month prison sentence.

Lawyer Benjamin Valenzia appeared for the accused.