Man lands in court after claiming he had a bomb in his luggage
Second such case in two weeks
A 59-year-old man was given a conditional discharge on Monday after he admitted in court to having claimed that he had a bomb in his luggage at Malta International Airport, sparking a security alert.
Tommaso Palmieri, an Italian national, was waiting to board a Ryanair flight to Rome on Sunday morning when he was stopped by officials because he allegedly had not paid to take his hand luggage into the passenger cabin.
An argument ensued as the amount he was asked to pay was not the same amount as he had been asked to pay in Italy. He eventually paid up.
While an official was placing a tag on his bag, she asked him if he had any electronics in the bag, to which he replied, “I have a bomb”.
Police inspector Roxanne Tabone said Palmieri was arrested there and then.
In court, the man pleaded guilty and was conditionally discharged for two years.
Magistrate Leonard Caruana presided. Police inspector Roxanne Tabone prosecuted. Lawyer Giannella de Marco appeared for the accused.
Monday's case was similar to another, at the end of last month, also involving an Italian tourist. In that case, the accused was fined €1200.