Fifth man charged over small boat landing in Essex

A fifth man has been charged over a small boat landing on the north-east Essex coastline.

The boat was spotted on the beach at Holland-on-Sea, near Clacton-on-Sea, on 1 July.

Albanian national Fation Kalemaj, 44, of no fixed abode, is accused of facilitating illegal immigration. He appeared before magistrates in Bradford on Tuesday and is next due at the city's crown court on 10 September.

Four other men have already been charged with the same offence and they appeared in court last week. All five defendants have been remanded in custody.

The other four are due at Chelmsford Crown Court on 3 September.

Two of them - Konrad Dabrowski, 25, and Damian Ciuron, 41, both from Bradford - were arrested on the beach.

The boat's pilot, 45-year-old Italian Christian Albano, was arrested at sea by Border Security Command. Illia Prendi, 57, of no fixed abode, was detained at a later date.

Immigration Enforcement has been handling the detention of six others who were on the boat.

None of the defendants have been asked to enter pleas yet.

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