Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/551192
4 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 5 AUGUST 2015 News YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt British diving instructor faces extradition to Malta A British diving instructor is facing extradition to Malta as a court believes he was respon- sible for the death of his diving partner and another diver in Gozo last year. Stephen Martin, 55 from Brighton, an experienced diver, was diving in Gozo on 18 June of last year. He was accompa- nied by eight friends from the Brighton branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club – among them were Larissa Hooley, 48, and Nigel Haines, 59, who tragically lost their lives during the dive. While Martin claims he is in- nocent, the Maltese authorities accused him of being "negligent in his obligations". Speaking to Mail Online, Martin said that Hooley had descended from 49ft below the surface to 114ft without warn- ing. Meanwhile, Haines and scuba diver Jeremy Coster went down to help Hooley and suc- ceeded in bringing her to the surface. However, she died on the shore. Haines was subse- quently found dead in the wa- ter. Although a Brighton coroner deemed the deaths an accident after hearing the declarations of experts and witnesses, the Maltese courts said that Martin "failed to keep close watch" of the victims, and that the dive should have been cancelled due to "prevailing weather condi- tions". Martin however claimed to always have been a "conscien- tious" diving 'buddy' and that he could not be considered an official 'leader' of the group, even though his experience as an instructor rendered him the most qualified in the group. Though a Westminster judge approved his extradition last month, Martin has since lodged an appeal with the High Court. Libyan man fakes residency documents to set up Malta company A Libyan man was given a sus- pended prison sentence and de- portation after it transpired that he was in Malta under false pre- tences. Arab Ali Khalefa, 44, admit- ted in court that he had falsified documents to obtain a residency permit in Malta which would help him set up a company on the is- land. Testifying in front of Magis- trate Francesco Depasquale, Kha- lefa said that he had given false information to accountant Joe Sammut, who would have helped him set up a company in Malta. Suspicion on the legitimacy of Khalefa's claims arose when his residency application was proc- essed through the immigration officers, who noted several in- consistencies in the documents presented. Upon police investigation, it was also revealed that Khalefa spoke no English, and that he wasn't aware of the number of shares the supposed company was good for. Testifying in court, immigra- tion officials said that investiga- tions into possible wrongdoing on Sammut's part yielded no results, since Khalefa presented false doc- uments. However Khalefa's lawyer, Leon Bencini urged the court to pro- ceed with clemency in Khalefa's regard, citing the "desperate" situation in Libya, which forces people to equally desperate meas- ures. Pleading guilty, Khalefa was sentenced to 18 months in prison – suspended for four years – by Magistrate Depasquale. He was warned to not repeat the crime, and will be deported back to his country. Immigration officials Frankie Sammut and Lara Butters pros- ecuted. Two arrested after beach thefts At about 3:15am, the St Julian's police station received reports that two men had been stealing others' belongings from St George's Bay TWO Libyan men were arrested yesterday after having been found in possession of items stolen from St George's bay. At about 3:15am, the St Julians police station received reports that two men had been stealing others' belongings from the beach. Rapid Intervention Unit offic- ers arrived at the beach to find the pair sitting alongside a cap, in which were several items. Their behaviour aroused suspicion and shortly after, a woman came for- ward to say that a mobile phone in the cap was hers. The men were arrested and held for further questioning. Elderly bather in critical condition after losing consciousness while swimming A woman is in danger of losing her life after experiencing diffi- culties while swimming at Pretty Bay, Birzebbuga. The woman, 72, went swim- ming with her sister at about 7.45am yesterday. Some distance from the shore, the woman lost consciousness and began to drown. Her sister attempted to keep her af loat and to draw the attention of other swimmers. Some people on shore noticed the incident and helped to bring the woman to shore. She was given first aid until a medical team arrived and conveyed her to Mater Dei. Police investigations are ongo- ing. Two divers lost their life in Gozo in June last year St George's Bay, popular with swimmers