Eritrean refugee denies using false passport

A man from Eritrea has been denied bail after pleading not guilty to using a counterfeit passport.

Inspector Darren Buhagiar told magistrate Gabriella Vella how 30-year-old Addis Tekly had arrived in Malta on a flight from Catania on 23 January .

Inspector Buhagiar explained that Tekly had been detained at the airport on arrival from Catania as his passport was found to be “completely counterfeit.” He had told police that he enjoyed humanitarian protection in Italy and had shown a genuine document to support this claim, the court was told.

Tekley had told the authorities that he had paid €150 for the fake passport but had not revealed the identity of who had sold it to him. He had said that he had come to work as he couldn't find a job in Italy.

The accused claimed that he hadn't known the document was false.

A not guilty plea was entered.

Bail was not requested at this stage, the defence conceding that as he did not have a fixed address, or any ties to Malta, any request for bail would be denied.

The court confirmed that it would never have been able to grant him bail.

Lawyer Yanika Bugeja appeared for Tekly.