A Dutchman charged with violent indecent assault on a teenager walking back home from Paceville in the small hours of Thursday insisted yesterday it was a case of mistaken identity.

Biondy Clayd Raafenberg, 25, who works for an iGaming company and lives in Naxxar, also claimed he was beaten by the police while under arrest.

Mr Raafenberg was charged with sexually attacking the 18-year-old at about 4am on Thursday close to Sunrise Inn. He was further charged with holding her against her will, escaping from police custody, resisting the police at the St Julian’s station and damaging officers’ uniforms.

Police Inspector Trevor Micallef told the court the Maltese girl was thrown to the ground, had her clothes ripped off and was groped but somehow managed to escape.

He said the accused was subsequently arrested near Burger King after the victim recognised him as her assailant through the clothes he was wearing.

Court asked to see CCTV footage

The defence insisted this was a case of mistaken identity because the alleged victim only identified the accused on the basis of what he was wearing. Lawyers Albert Zerafa and Valentina Lattughi insisted their client was with his room-mate and another friend at Havana Nightclub and then walked to Burger King where he was arrested.

On a request by the defence, the court ordered the prosecution to exhibit CCTV footage of the centre of Paceville and the area outside the police station.

The court also upheld a request for court expert Mario Scerri to be appointed to examine the accused. The defence said the accused had already been taken to the Floriana health centre where he was found to have abrasions on his elbows and knees, injuries of a slight nature.

The defence lawyers asked for a ban on the publication of their client’s name but Magistrate Aaron Bugeja turned it down, saying he was an adult and there were no connections to the victim.

Mr Raafenberg was granted bail against a deposit of €3,000 and a personal guarantee of €7,000. The court ordered him not to go to Paceville, Swieqi and the neighbouring localities and not to approach the alleged victim.

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