Updated - An unemployed Libyan from St Julian’s was yesterday charged with raping and assaulting a 27-year-old Hungarian woman in Paceville on Friday night.

Ezzedin Salem Elaoud, 26, of Tripoli, was also charged with attacking the woman and causing her slight injury. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mr Elaoud, who did not ask for bail and was remanded in custody, told Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech he was an asylum seeker and exhibited an outdated ‘migration card’ as well as a pending application for asylum.

He was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning after the police were informed about a woman sitting on the steps of an apartment block in Wilġa Street, Paceville, at about 4am.

The woman, who was taken to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment, allegedly identified the accused as her aggressor.

Referring to media reports on the allegations, the court heard that the woman, whose name cannot be published, smelled of alcohol when she was found. The defence asked for an analysis of blood samples to establish whether she had been under the influence of alcohol or any other substance.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi represented Mr Elaoud. Legal Procurator Quentin Tanti appeared in parte civile for the alleged victim.

Police Inspectors Matthew Spagnol and John Spiteri prosecuted.