26-year-old denies charges over forged Greek identity card

A 26-year-old Syrian national who works in construction was remanded in custody on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to charges relating to a forged Greek identity card.

Momen Al Homada, who resides in Ħal Qormi, was charged with possessing and using a forged Greek identity card, making false declarations to a public authority and providing false information about his identity to police.

The prosecution explained that on Sunday evening, 8 November, police stopped a vehicle carrying two people during a roadblock. Al Homada, who was travelling as a passenger, was asked to produce identification documents but had none in his possession.

Police subsequently searched his residence, where they discovered a forged Greek identity card which, according to the prosecution, he had allegedly used to enter Malta two years earlier.

He was then taken to the Ħal Safi immigration detention centre, where his fingerprints were taken to establish his identity, before being arrested on Monday at 3:47pm.

During Tuesday's arraignment, the defence did not contest the validity of his arrest. No request for bail was made at this stage, and the accused was remanded in custody.

The case will continue at a later date.

Inspector Karl Roberts prosecuted, while legal aid lawyer Martina Herrera appeared for the accused.

Magistrate Abigail Critien presided over the arraignment.