A Gambian man was among twelve homeless individuals who appeared in court in Malta following a police raid that targeted people begging near a major shopping area.
The operation, carried out just before dawn in the town of Marsa, focused on those reportedly asking shoppers for money outside the Pavi Supermarket and the nearby Decathlon outlet in Qormi.
Ten men between the ages of 24 and 51 were brought to court in the first round of hearings. They came from several countries, including Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria, Libya, Italy, Malta – and The Gambia. Each was escorted into the courtroom individually to avoid disruption. All ten pleaded not guilty to charges related to vagrancy and begging in public.
A legal aid lawyer requested bail, but the court denied the request, citing the men’s lack of fixed residence and ongoing social needs. They were ordered to remain in custody while social workers prepare care plans for each of them.
A separate hearing was held for a 26-year-old man who had been arrested while sleeping on a bench in the town of Ħamrun before the main raid in Marsa began. He told the court that being homeless had prevented him from finding work. His bail was also denied, and the magistrate advised him to connect with social workers while in custody.
The final person brought before the court was a woman who had been seen shouting outside the courtroom before being arraigned. She refused to be separated from her dog and told the court that she had nowhere else to sleep and was living on a bench. Despite her outburst and emotional plea, bail was denied, though the magistrate recommended that the dog be housed with her while she is held.
The case has stirred debate about how the country handles homelessness, particularly among migrants. Although public safety concerns were cited as the reason for the raid, critics say that criminal charges should not be used to manage poverty or rough sleeping.
Many of Malta’s homeless population includes migrants from Africa who, despite working in low-wage or informal jobs, are unable to secure stable housing due to rising rental costs and limited access to social support. Gambians in Malta often find work in construction or food service, but without consistent employment or legal protections, some end up on the streets when jobs fall through.
The court noted that if any of the individuals can provide a verified address and demonstrate they are working with social services, their bail status may be reconsidered. All 12 are expected to appear in court again later this month.
