An Italian chef who had come to Malta looking for a job, has been accused of defiling and participating in sexual acts with  the underage daughter of his estranged partner.

Roberto Tanzi, 42, who has been living in Msida for a number of years was charged this afternoon before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech and pleaded not guilty.

The court heard how the alleged sexual abuses started when the girl was nine years old and continued till last November when she was 13 years. Until then the accused had been in a relationship with the girl's mother

A request for bail filed by legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace was rejected by the court, due to the fact that the man had no financial means to pay a deposit as he recently lost his job.

Police inspectors John Spiteri and Paula Ciantar prosecuted.