UPDATED: Libyan men jailed after rape conviction
(Adds prison term)
Two Libyan men have been unanimously found guilty by a jury in connection with the rape of a Swedish girl in 2006.
Nader Abdulazis Elgerian was jailed for 15 years after being convicted of raping the girl and indecently assaulting and threatening her, while his friend Hasan Mohammed Ahmed was jailed for 10 years for assisting in the crime.The men were also fined €4,237.96 each.
The jury reached its verdict after five hours of deliberation.
Before sentencing the men, Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono took into consideration the pleas on punishment and the gravity of the case. He added that he also considered the fact that Mr Elgerian had already been found guilty of theft.
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AnnMarie Pawley
Oct 23rd 2008, 17:19
And what about the 61 year old? How come he only got 7 years? Is this what we call justice in our country??
Christopher Agius Ferrante
Oct 23rd 2008, 16:10
i am not sure what all of this backslapping is about.
I suppose we should be thankful that for once serious criminals were justly punished.
Raymond Sammut
Oct 23rd 2008, 08:55
@ P Debono
I tend to disagree.
My view is that a prison sentence should be served in the country where the crime was committed. In this way, a country can ensure that punishment fits the crime.
In every country, taxpayers pay to keep criminals in jail, while all countries get their fair share of crime, on average.
Be sure that there are, at some time or another, Maltese and Swedish citizens in foreign jails paid for by taxpayers in respective countries. Overall, and in the long run, the cost to all taxpayers worldwide should even out more or less according to natural law.
Maria Mizzi
Oct 23rd 2008, 07:36
M. Mizzi
All well and good but why does a Maltese man get only 7 years for raping a little girl?
Joe Morana
Oct 23rd 2008, 03:57
If the first rapist had previouly been convicted of theft, what was he doing running about in St. Julian's preying upon and raping Swedish girls?
Joseph Vassallo
Oct 23rd 2008, 01:43
Well done the Honourable court!
And so say all of us.
Guze Xerri
Oct 22nd 2008, 23:43
Good job Malta justice system.
the sentence will make the jail birds eyes water and an other part of their body red.:)
P Debono
Oct 22nd 2008, 22:51
How many times have we seen this type of crime imported onto our shores?
The honest Maltese taxpayer should not pay for these monsters. They should be deported at once and sent to face the music in their own country.
victor vella
Oct 22nd 2008, 22:44
An awfully big well done to the courts of Law, now that is what I consider a real sentence, the lives of those girls was ruined and the memory would never go away, but at least they would sleep safer and so would a lot of Maltese girls.I sincerely hope that this was not a one off case.Well done,
Zap Branagan
Oct 22nd 2008, 21:08
Can someone please explain how these guys got 15 and 10 years respectively, while the 61-yr old from Birkikara got 7 years for violently raping a child?
http://www.timesofmalta.com.mt/articles/view/20081008/local/61-year-old-convicted-of-raping-girl-aged-10/
Do Maltese men get lesser sentences for worse crimes? That 61-yr old's crime was planned for a long time, as evidenced by the fact that he used to make the girl watch porno films.
Where is the outrage?
(And of course I must explain that I want longer sentences for crimes of rape.)
James A. Tyrrell
Oct 22nd 2008, 20:20
Lets hope that when they get out they will be booted back to Libya where they belong.
David Muscat
Oct 22nd 2008, 19:37
Finally some real sentences. Well done judge Galea Debono. The message is clear, violent rape will result in a stiff sentence. These people did untold harm to our tourist industry. Hopefully other judges will follow his example and punish similar crimes severely.
James De Giorgio
Oct 22nd 2008, 19:08
They should be sent to spend their terms in their own countries, why should I pay taxes to give a three-star accommodation for these rapists? First they come over, then they rape, now they cost the country 25 years of prison accommodation.
Nyal Xuereb
Oct 22nd 2008, 19:03
Finally some sense!
Lawrence Attard
Oct 22nd 2008, 18:41
...and child molesters get away quasi scot free...
Joe Vassallo
Oct 22nd 2008, 18:21
If I am not mistaken, earlier this month it was reported that a 61 year old Maltese man was found guilty of repeatidly raping a 10 year old girl. If I am correct he only got 7 years in jail. Does not make sense to me, comparing to what these Libyans got.
monica muscat
Oct 22nd 2008, 18:12
Good for the Judge. A very examplery sentence. But girls, please watch out. It has been proven that when harsh sentences were passed in some countries. the murder rate of rape victims rose. You see - no witness - no nothing. The would be rapist has nothing to loss and much to gain by burning his traces.
Monica Muscat
Robert Vagner
Oct 22nd 2008, 17:47
Prosit. Mr Justice Galea Debono. Very different from the 7 year term for the repeated rape of an innocent 10 year old girl.
deb bugeja
Oct 22nd 2008, 17:05
At least they got what they deserved. after their sentence they should be deported to their own country
Paul Barrett
Oct 22nd 2008, 17:02
Wow, that should make their eyes water and also acts as one hell of a warning which should very much help make our streets safer.