Nigerien in possession of fake documents remanded in custody

An eagle-eyed bank employee who became suspicious of a fake Italian residency permit helped police swoop in and arrest a Nigerien man, a court heard today.

The remark was made this afternoon during the arraignment of Youssef Ibrahim, 29, of Niger, who pleaded not guilty to forging and to being in possession of a fake Italian residency card.

Sources said that the man was arrested on New Year’s Eve after a HSBC bank employee phoned the police on suspicion that a man was in possession of fake documents. The man was subsequently arrested and was allegedly found in possession of a fake Italian residency permit before being arraigned this afternoon.

In court, Ibrahim stood nonchalantly as the police read out the charges. Moreover, despite requesting legal assistance, the man refused to cooperate and communicate with a legal aid lawyer.

Upon seeing this, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera postponed the sitting by five minutes, warning the accused that if he failed to cooperate, he may face severe repercussions and possibly years of court sittings.

After some minutes, the accused entered in the courtroom and pleaded not guilty to the charges. No request for bail was made and consequently the man was remanded in custody.

Police Inspector Frankie Sammut prosecuted, while Lawyer Alessandro Lia was legal aid.