Man jailed for four years for forcing woman to marry man of Arab origin

Keith Pace and a 'third party' had suggested Cettina Kok to marry the man at a time when she needed “quick money”.

However, when she started expressing doubts on the plan, they allegedly threatened to kill her.

Pace - with the help of another woman, identified as Maria Camilleri -  set up a meeting between the Dutch woman and the Arab who wanted to gain Maltese citizenship.

However, once at the Immigration Office, the two came to know that with the marriage, the Arab still was not going to gain his citizenship and Kok changed her mind.

Kok said she did not want to lose her citizenship and said she did not want to marry him. Hearing this, Pace and his accomplice threatened the woman and beat her up until she finally gave up her Dutch citizenship and married the Arab against her will.

Pace, who has had a brush with the law several times, admitted to all charges brought against him and was sentenced to four years in jail and fined €1,000.