Two Somali men were caught on Christmas Day trying to rape a 17-year-old girl on the Birzebbuga promenade, a police inspector said in court yesterday.

Mohamed Muse Ali and Mohamed Hasan Ibrahim, both 21, had escaped from the Hal-Far detention centre and visited a number of bars along the seafront where they got drunk.

Police Inspector Raymond Caruana said that after a call was received alerting the police to a fight at about 2 a.m. on the promenade, officers rushed to the spot and found one of the accused on top of the girl and the other next to her.

Both men had deep scratches on their faces, near the eyes, over their eyebrows and on the cheeks, which were still clearly visible in court as they sat in the dock quietly listening to their interpreter.

In asking the court for bail, defence lawyer Mark Busuttil said his clients could not remember what happened because they were drunk. All they could recall was speaking to a mature woman, and definitely not a 17-year-old, as claimed by the prosecution, he said.

But presiding Magistrate Anthony Vella questioned this version of events, asking how was it possible that they could not remember anything but conveniently remembered that the woman they had spoken to was a mature woman.

Dr Busuttil stressed the point that they were very drunk because they do not touch alcohol at all and, therefore, they are unable to handle heavy drink. In addition, it is clear from the way they went straight to a crowded place full of bars that they did not intend escaping the detention centre but simply wanted to celebrate.

Mr Caruana argued that, in the circumstances, granting bail is not ideal as the accused had already escaped from the detention centre and had also tried to run away from police when they were arrested.

After taking into consideration the seriousness of the charges, the court remanded the men in custody.

Police Inspector Priscilla Caruana also prosecuted.

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