Couple charged over rape

A Tunisian man and his Maltese girlfriend yesterday denied rape and complicity to rape a 28-year-old woman.

Hasan Raouf, 29, who declared that he works as a promoter for telecommunications company Go Mobile, and unemployed Josephine Wadi, 26, from Fgura were also charged with violent indecent assault and holding the victim against her will on January 7.

In pleas on bail, lawyers Joe Brincat and David Camilleri made the case for their clients to be granted bail by pointing out that they had been granted police bail before appearing in court and had always cooperated with investigations.

This cooperation was testament to their trustworthiness and they should be granted bail, the lawyers said.

Police Inspector Joseph Busuttil, however, pointed out that although he was not contesting bail being awarded to Ms Wadi, Mr Raouf had relapsed and had previous convictions for causing bodily harm.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani granted Ms Wadi bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000 and remanded her partner in custody.

Police Inspector Jessica Grima also prosecuted.