A Libyan refugee, who claimed to be a lawyer, was handed a suspended sentence this afternoon after he admitted in court to groping a tourist’s bottom while on a bus.

The incident happened at around 10.30pm on Thursday when Abdelhamed Abde Qader, 27, who lives in Marsa, groped the woman. He was also charged with being drunk in public.

Mr Qader admitted to the charges brought against him and apologised for his actions. He also told police during interrogations that he found it “funny” that the police were making such a fuss over something so silly.

But Magistrate Francesco Depasquale said Mr Qader showed utter lack of respect towards this woman and the entire female gender, something the court found unacceptable.

On the other hand, the court took into consideration that Mr Qader was awaiting a passport to be able to relocate to some other European country “and did not want him to miss the opportunity”.

The magistrate therefore sentenced him to three months imprisonment suspended for a year.

Police Inspector Jeanne Farrugia prosecuted while lawyer Anthony Cutajar appeared for the accused.