Two brothers on rape charges

Two brothers were yesterday charged with the violent rape of minors.

Denis Pandolfino, 54, of Sliema, was charged with violent rape and violent indecent assault of minors, including two boys aged 10 and 11.

He was further charged with corrupting the minors, who had been entrusted to him so that he would take care of them and educate them.

He was also charged with illegally holding the two boys against their will and with forcing them to commit sexual acts.

Anthony Pandolfino, 59, of Pembroke, was similarly charged but the charges were related to the 11-year-old boy.

The two brothers were jointly charged with child pornography and with distributing pornographic material.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro turned down a request by defence lawyer Dr Melvyn Mifsud for a ban on the publication of the names of the accused. An application for bail was also refused.

The brothers were remanded in custody.

Magistrate Lofaro also ordered that Denis Pandolfino be placed under psychiatric care.

Inspectors Louise Vella, Martin Sammut and Paul Caruana prosecuted.