Friday, 21st November 2008 - 13:55CET

Libyan pleads guilty to rape

A 31-year-old Libyan this morning pleaded guilty to attempting to rape a German woman in Paceville yesterday morning.

Abdella A. Mohammed El Sharkassi was also accused before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli of holding the woman against her will and of violently and sexually assaulting her.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

t farrugia (on 23/11/08)

let him spend his jail term in libya instead of him living off our taxes

C Pace (on 22/11/08)

While I condemn this man's actions and agree that rape is unforgivable, as well as deters tourists from visiting the island, I laugh at the fact that there are so few comments about the gang rape in Gozo. What's more, the comments are about having Gozo in the title, never mind the fact that it was (1) a gang rape (2) the men pleaded not guilty.... ahh well. I guess we easily forgive nationals' actione on this holy island. What a farce of a nation!!! Supposedly friendly and welcoming (some even have the cheek to classify themselves as Catholic) yet so racist. You are punishing the man for the wrong reason - his nationality rather than his action.

Maria Camilleri (on 22/11/08)

Seeing from other news items, I don't think rape or violence against women has anything to do with the passport that the offender holds. If we want to generalise, we could suggest "maybe all men should be deported?".

a.dalli (on 22/11/08)

A rape is a rape is a rape wherever it occures.
If we start menioning what goes on in European cities in this respect - the Sunday Times pages would not suffice. Has this come to the forefront because this happens to be a Libyan national. And are we sure he is a Libya? The readers may want to know that not all Arabs are Libyans.

graham holme (on 22/11/08)

I wrote a letter to the times a couple of years ago warning Malta,that because of illegal immigration its tourism industry would suffer
The writing is now well and truly on the wall.

ANTHEA PRESTON (on 22/11/08)

Germany is your second biggest market when it comes to tourism. Word gets round fast. Britain is your biggest market when it comes to tourism. I myself alone, one person can deter others from coming to Malta for their holidays by what I tell them. I did not feel that safe this summer when I was in Malta for the first time and would not let my daughter go anywhere on her own. Deportation with a lifetime ban for anyone other than nationals who commit any crime is a must but also a must is the fact that they absolutely must not be able to get back in!!! Where is your national security if someone can re-enter the country after being deported?

Peter James (on 21/11/08)

They should definitely deport him i don't want to pay taxes so he can have his three-course meal in prison. He will become another burden to the taxpayer.

Amanda Mallia (on 21/11/08)

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081121/local/three-charged-with-gozo-gang-rape

Jeremy J Camilleri (on 21/11/08)

All this talk about deportation is ridiculous...A couple of years back, a girl I knew was stabbed to death by a LIbyan who after being deported, reentered the country in not less than a week!

As for the issue in question, I suggest tougher penalties for sex crimes....be they committed by Maltese or foreigner alike.

Charles sammut (on 21/11/08)

@ Paul Cave

Your logic is difficult for me to follow. Some people plead guilty to try to mitigate their damning situation.

How about those who plead not guilty to importing drug filled capsules in their stomach?

"I don't know how they got there your honour. Some one must have put them in my cornflakes for breakfast."

Jeremy j Camilleri (on 21/11/08)

Paul Cave...Honesty is a virtue...Rape is not

James De Giorgio (on 21/11/08)

Send him back to his country. Malta is not a pleasure ship for Libyans like him who can't control their desires. This applies for all those who come here and commit crimes. Others can stay as long as they behave.

lgalea (on 21/11/08)

a sciberras
After serving his sentence. How can we be sure that he will do his time if he were deported?

Paul Cave (on 21/11/08)

Joe, this sort of thing will have a more marked effect on tourism, in my opinion...

Friday, 21st November 2008 - 14:15CET
Teenagers accused of injuring man

Four teenagers have been accused of grievously injuring a man in Luqa on November 10.

They were arraigned before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli accused of using an irregular weapon and of breaching the peace.

All pleaded not guilty.

At least the Libyan admitted his offence in open court. you would find it difficult I think to find the same honesty from a local accused, looking through other stories in this and other Maltese newspapers

a sciberras (on 21/11/08)

they should definately deport him.

Daniel Russell (on 21/11/08)

Can he be deported to serve his sentence? I feel so sorry for the girl in question and it is a shame for her. I do hope justice is served.

Dr Paul Sant Cassia (on 21/11/08)

Not directly related to this case which is sub-judice, but does Malta have agreements in place with various EU and non-EU countries which would permit individuals sentenced to incarceration to serve their term in their own home countries? I could imagine that some individuals would prefer to move "up-market" as it were, and others would not - depending on the country concerned.

Joe Morana (on 21/11/08)

No doubt, this is the type of adverse publicity that Malta's tourism can do without.

Libyan pleads guilty to rape

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