Jail for boy's defilement

A 37-year-old Algerian national, who resides in Malta, has been jailed for a year after he admitted to defiling a 15-year-old boy he met over the internet.

Lanouar Bounab pleaded guilty to defiling the teenage Maltese boy and breaching the condition of a suspended jail term in August this year.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani heard how Mr Bounab admitted to having "complete carnal knowledge", that is sexual intercourse, with the boy.

She also heard how the 15-year-old had consented to the act.

According to law, sexual intercourse with a minor who turned 15 does not necessarily constitute rape if the minor has consented. It does however constitute defilement.

The magistrate therefore jailed Mr Bounab for a year and extended the suspended jail term (he had breached) to a one-year jail term suspended for four years.

Police Inspectors Louise Calleja and Pierre Micallef Grimaud prosecuted.