An illegal immigrant yesterday denied exposing himself to two young children while drunk in Birżebbuġa on Saturday evening.

Osman Hussein Du Ale was charged with defiling a 10-year-old boy and his 12-year-old sister, corrupting them, offending public morals and being so drunk he was unable to look after himself.

Legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech said the alleged crime was not as serious as the charges made it out to be and his client never touched the children. Furthermore, one ought to bear in mind that the man was drunk at the time and he flatly denied exposing himself to the children, Dr Fenech insisted.

He said that if the court granted bail there was no fear of tampering with evidence because the accused did not know the children or their mother.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit said that at this early stage of the proceedings she would remand the accused in custody until the first witnesses were heard.

Police Inspectors Melvyn Camilleri and Carlos Cordina prosecuted.