Two men attempted to buy girl's silence

Two individuals tried to persuade the family of a 15-year-old girl at the centre of sexual assault allegations not to go to the police in exchange for a sum of money, The Sunday Times has learnt.

The individuals approached the family in an effort to persuade them to bury the issue after the girl claimed she had been sexually assaulted over a period of time by four men from Nadur.

It is understood that the two individuals even spoke to the girl, but the family pressed on and four men were arraigned in connection with the case earlier this month.

Brothers Josef and Peter Paul Said, aged 27 and 34 respectively, were charged with raping the girl and holding her against her will. They were also accused of breaching the conditions of a previous court sentence.

Meanwhile, 38-year-old Peter Paul Debono and 24-year-old Mark Lorry Said were charged with corrupting a minor and participating in sexual acts with her.

The incidents are alleged to have started 18 months ago.

The Sunday Times received information about the efforts to persuade the family - which is potentially incriminating - and passed it on to the police.

The newspaper also asked the police if any such complaint had been made by the family. No reply was forthcoming at the time of going to print.

The four men were initially remanded in custody but were then placed under house arrest during a hearing which took place behind closed doors last Tuesday.

Two of the accused, Josef and Peter Paul Said, are brothers of Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, the former Nadur mayor who was elected to Parliament in the March 8 general election.

However, it is understood that the politician is not implicated in any way.

But the girl's family pressed ahead with the complaint.