Man bought a false passport

Ali Ahammad, of Victoria Street, Lurgan, appeared by videolink from Maghaberry prison.

He admitted that on July 7 this year he had in his possession a Bangladeshi passport which he improperly obtained.

The court heard that immigration officers spoke to the defendant who was working in the kitchen of a restaurant.

He was unable to produce identification but at his address he produced a passport.

Ahammad admitted buying the passport for £7,000 from an agent in London and he knew that it was false.

He had no legal basis for being in the UK.

A solicitor for the defendant said he was of Bahari origin and a stateless person in Bangladesh.

He added that Ahammed had suffered systematic discrimination and ill treatment due to his political actions in Bangladesh.

The solicitor said his client would fear for his life if he was returned to Bangladesh.

He had applied for asylum before he was detected for this offence and had co-operated with the immigration officers.

District Judge Mr Alan White imposed a three-month prison term but suspended it for two years.