An illegal immigrant who arrived on a rickety boat in July was yesterday given a suspended jail term for trying to board an Air Malta flight, using a false ID card indicating the holder to be a woman.

Christopher Obesem, who said he was 16 years old, was caught at the airport with a blatantly obvious false ID card about to board a plane to Brussels last Saturday.

Mr Obese had escaped from the detention centre at Hal Far and told the police that the false card had been sent to him by mail.

He admitted to the charges brought against him and told the court: "I'm sorry, please. I'm sorry".

Police Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri said that, although Mr Obese had cooperated with the police in their investigations, he had not given any information about the "group" that had sent him the false card.

Defence lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores said that, while the charges are serious, his client did not know anything about the people who had sent him the card. The legal counsel also asked the court to take into consideration the fact that Mr Obese is only 16 years old. He felt that a prison term would be rather exaggerated and a suspended sentence would be more appropriate.

After taking into account the fact that four men facing the same charges were given a suspended jail term on Monday, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli handed down an 18-month jail term suspended for four years.