Three Somalis and a Sudanese were yesterday charged with raping a Maltese 26-year-old woman, in Marsa, early on Monday morning.

The accused were Somalis Abuker Ahmed Abdilrahman, 18, who resides in Marsalforn, Muhammed Ali Hasan and Omar Osman Omar and Sudanese Anwar Otman Hasan all 28 and who reside at the Marsa open centre.

During the arraignment before Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona, the four men pleaded not guilty to holding the woman against her will, using violence to force her to do their bidding, raping her and slightly injuring her, on Monday, at about 2 a.m.

Mr Abdilrahman and Mr Otman Hasan were also charged with threatening and assaulting a foreign man who was with the woman.

Mr Abdilrahman was also charged with theft from the Appogg open centre in Hal Far, causing damage at the centre last month and with the illegal possession of a knife.

The men were remanded in custody.

Police Inspectors Louise Calleja and Jesmond Borg prosecuted.

Lawyer Richard Sladden was defence counsel.

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