A 47 year-old man who lived and worked in the Isle of Man illegally has been jailed for a total of nine months by the high bailiff.

Ibrahim Ahmed Jelani, of Mona Terrace, Douglas admitted using a forged French passport and forged French driving licence, being an illegal alien and possessing a false passport.

The offences were all committed between January 15 and 31, 2003.

The defendant, from India, came to the Island to work as a chef and used the forged documents to obtain a work permit.

Stuart Peters reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

His advocate said Jelani was deeply remorseful as he had come here to get work to support his family back in India.

He worked hard and for long hours and was paid less than the minimum wage.

High Bailiff Michael Moyle said the matter was very serious, but he was giving full credit for the early pleas and the fact the defendant had no previous convictions.

In addition to the prison sentence he excluded Jelani from the Island for five years and said after his release from prison he was to be sent back to India.

(Picture: Douglas courthouse, where Ibrahim Ahmed Jelani was sentenced).