Law Reform Commissioner Franco Debono yesterday said the age of consent “should be 16” rather than 18, during an arraignment in which his client denied having sex with a minor.

Dr Debono, whose job as commissioner is to review and recommend ways to consolidate legislation, was representing 23-year-old Stefan Vassallo, from Swieqi, who pleaded not guilty to having sex with a 15-year-old girl and relapsing. “Malta is the only place in the world where the age of consent is 18 years old,” Dr Debono told the court, arguing that it should be lowered to 16.

Mr Vassallo had been previously sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for trafficking cannabis and, in another case, conditionally discharged for six months after being found guilty of handling stolen property.

In pleas on bail, Dr Debono told Magistrate Giovanni Grixti he hoped this case would reignite the discussion on the age of consent.

Police Inspector Joseph Busuttil said the parents of both Mr Vassallo and the girl knew about the situation and despite having been banned from seeing each other, they would still make contact.

There was a very real fear of the witness being influenced in this case, the inspector said.

Magistrate Grixti granted Mr Vassallo bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €1,500.