Syrian pleads guilty to using forged passport

A Syrian chef has been handed a suspended sentence after he was arraigned in court this afternoon, charged with having changed the picture on an Italian ID card.

Before magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona, Inspector Mario Haber from the Immigration Police charged Mohammed Ahmed Chawki, 43, from Kalipo in Syria, with tampering with official travel documents.

He explained that Chawki had been arrested at the airport yesterday, while trying to use an Italian ID card in the name of one, Virigilio Illiano, but bearing his image.

Shawki pleaded guilty and was given a six month sentence, suspended for a year.