Albanian Convicted In Tigné Hold-Up To Be Deported After Court Ruling

An Albanian man convicted over the 2017 armed robbery of a jewellery store at Tigné Point can now be deported from Malta after the Constitutional Court overturned an earlier ruling that had blocked his removal.

Artan Coku was sentenced to four years in prison in 2023 after admitting to his role in the Diamonds International hold-up and participating in a criminal organisation.

According to TVMNews, after completing his sentence, Coku was issued with a Return Decision and Removal Order, but challenged the deportation in court, arguing that he had lived in Malta since the age of five, had been raised by a Maltese family and that his life was rooted on the island.

In November 2025, the First Hall of the Civil Court agreed with his arguments, ruling that deporting him would breach his fundamental human rights.

However, the State Advocate and Principal Immigration Officer appealed the decision.

The Constitutional Court has now ruled in their favour, finding that Coku still has close ties to Albania, including family members, and that he was never formally adopted or fostered in Malta.

The court concluded that deporting him would not violate his human rights, clearing the way for his removal from the country.

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Dylan Attard

Dylan Attard is a Social Media Executive at Lovin Malta and a proud Gozitan with a passion for digital media, content creation, and social trends. Outside of work, you’ll usually find him at the gym, watching series or doomscrolling.