Libyan human trafficker charged with complicity with Joe Sammut

Man who was recieved suspended sentence for trafficking two men into Sicily in 2008, was charged with the falsification of a public document and of complicity with Joseph Sammut in setting up false companies to secure Maltese residence for Libyan nationals

Auditor Joe Sammut
Auditor Joe Sammut

A Libyan national thought to be Joe Sammut’s Libyan connection has appeared in court this morning, charged with several offences relating to the cash for visas scandal.

Police Inspectors Jonathan Ferris, Lara Butters and William Scicluna arraigned Sliema resident Ali Fauzi Ltetey from Tripoli before Magistrate Neville Camilleri this morning.

Ltetey, 38, was charged with the falsification of a public document, making a false declaration to a public authority, knowingly making use of a falsified document and of complicity with Joseph Sammut to commit those same offences. He was also charged with relapsing.

The accused, who had been on the run since August, was arrested at his Sliema home after police received a tip off.

In 2008, Ltetey was accused of human trafficking after having illegally helped migrants and people who had overstayed their visit to Malta, leave for Sicily. He was convicted and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and fined €24,000 for his complicity.

Defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi said that the accused, who has no job in Malta, was pleading not guilty to the charges. The defence also informed the court that bail would not be requested at this stage.

Former Labour party treasurer Joe Sammut is undergoing separate criminal proceedings, in which he is accused of receiving payment for forming fake Maltese companies which would enable Libyan nationals become eligible for Maltese residency visas.