Elderly man accused of defilement collapses in court

A 67-year-old man yesterday had a dizzy spell in court after he was charged with sexually assaulting his eight-year-old neighbour.

The man pleaded not guilty to defilement, illegal arrest and violent indecent assault on and before May this year.

Lawyer Tony Abela, for the man, requested bail, arguing that his client was not fit to be sent to jail as he had recently undergone heart surgery.

Police Inspector Raymond Aquilina pointed out that the man was the neighbour of the minor and, granting him bail, could lead to tampering with evidence. After hearing submissions and evaluating the situation, the magistrate denied bail. That was when the man, standing in the dock, suddenly fainted and sank into the bench. After being assisted by police officers and relatives in the court room, he was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

The magistrate ordered that he be kept in hospital until the next court sitting.

The name of the man is not being published by court order in order to protect the identity of the minor.