Something must be done about fake passport racket, court says

The trend of travellers being arrested in Malta with fake passports has continued, with another man appearing in court on related charges today

(File photo)
(File photo)

The spate of travellers being arrested leaving the island with fake passports has continued, with a Pakistani national denying knowledge that a passport which he had bought was a forgery.

Naples resident Abdur Rauf, 30, from Swat in Pakistan appeared before magistrate Joe Mifsud this morning having been arrested by the police as he tried to catch a flight to Italy using a false passport.

Raud had come to Malta to work, Inspector Frankie Sammut told the court, before deciding to head to Italy.

Like several others before him, Rauf claimed to have bought the document for €500 from a person he didn’t know, prompting the court to remark that something needed to be done about this.

The man insisted that he had done nothing wrong.

A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf by lawyer Yanika Bugeja. Bail was not requested as the accused had no place to stay in Malta.