Charged with defilement

An 18-year-old man from Gharghur was yesterday charged with holding a 13-year-old girl against her will and defiling her.

The teenager, whose name cannot be published by court order, pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera granted the ban on the publication of his name after learning that the boy and girl had had a relationship and the naming of the boy could easily lead to the identification of the girl.

The teenager was granted bail against a Lm200 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm1,000.

Police Inspector Pio Pisani prosecuted.

Dr Gavin Gulia appeared for the defendant.