A young Eritrean was yesterday charged with defiling two children at a playground but his lawyer argued he was probably urinating at the time.

Eritrean Bekit Osman Fayd, 18, who resides at the Ħal Far open centre, denied defiling the children, one aged five and the other one-and-a-half, who were with their mother at Pretty Bay, Birżebbuġa, on Monday night.

He is alleged to have exposed himself to them.

This was disputed by legal aid lawyer Anthony Cutajar. From reading the police statement, he said, he felt the charges were inflated and it was likely that Mr Fayd was actually urinating when he was seen by the family.

Police Inspector Arthur Mercieca asked the court to deny bail on grounds that once Mr Fayd was released it would be difficult to notify him to attend court sittings because he lived in an open centre.

Dr Cutajar said that was not a valid reason to deny bail. Once the accused had a place of residence he should be granted bail.

Magistrate Edwina Grima remanded the accused in custody.