Four men charged with human trafficking

Two Maltese men, Grezzju Abela, 62 of Fgura and Clayton Neal Camilleri, 31 of Żebbug were arraigned in court after being arrested on Saturday following the arrival of 18 migrants in Cirkewwa.

The two men were arraigned alongside two Syrian nationals, Mahmoud Hamd, 28 and Issam Hamd, 29. The four were accused of assisting people land in Malta or helping a group of people leave another country unlawfully.

While the two Syrian nationals admitted all charges brought against them Grezzju Abela and Clayton Neal Camilleri pleaded not guilty to having conspired to commit a crime in Malta and abroad and with having assisted people to land or stay in Malta unlawfully.

The two Syrians were given a two-year conditional discharge, while the two Maltese men were released from arrest on the usual court conditions.