A Nigerian man who attempted to leave Malta with a false French residency permit was today jailed for seven months.
Ben Chidi Nwaeke, 35, pleaded guilty to possession and use of forged documents but did not admit to the charge that he forged the document. He was caught in possession of the fake document at Malta International Airport as he was checking in to board a flight to Madrid.
Prosecuting inspector Darren Buhagiar told Magistrate Doreen Clarke that Mr Nwaeke did not cooperate at all with the police in their investigation and refused to give away the name of the person who was supplying such fake documents. Neither did he tell police whether he had purchased the fake document from someone in Malta or from someone overseas.
Lawyer Joe Mifsud said his client had the right to remain silent, arguing that this can never be used against him since it is a right he can exercise.
After having heard submissions, with the prosecution requesting an effective jail term and the defence asking for a suspended sentence “since in most cases of this sort a suspended sentence is given”, Magistrate Clarke jailed Mr Nwaeke for seven months.
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