Egyptian who passed himself off as Syrian tried in Greece
An Egyptian man is on trial in Greece accused of presenting himself as a Syrian refugee – a ploy that succeeded even though he had been apprehended for the same reason before in Greece, fingerprinted and deported.
Authorities said Monday the unnamed suspect first entered Greece illegally in 2013, posing as an Iraqi.
He was caught, deported and entered on a list of undesirable aliens.
In his second attempt, the suspect reached Samos last May in a refugee boat, and successfully passed himself off to police as a Syrian – securing official refugee documents.
He was caught in a routine check in Thessaloniki last week.
There was no suggestion that he engaged in other illegal activities in Greece.
If convicted, he faces a maximum five-year prison sentence.
[AP]
