A Maltese man was accused of rape today after having allegedly forced himself upon a woman whom he befriended in a Birzebbuga bar in the early hours of Saturday.

The man was also charged with having inflicted slight injuries and with having committed the indecent and immoral acts in a place that was accessible to the public.

The court, presided by Magistrate Marseanne Farrugia, heard how the 46-year old man from Birzebbuga had been on a night out on Friday when an East European woman, who lived in the same area, joined him at the bar.

In the early hours of the morning, when the victim was evidently under the influence of drink, the accused offered her a lift home.

However, abusing of her intoxicated state, he took a detour, stopped his car in a car park and embarked upon hours of sexual abuse, lasting until around 11 am, the court was told.

When the woman came to her senses, she struggled against her aggressor and finally managed to escape. Getting out of the car, she ran into the road, and in her panicked state, sought refuge at the Playmobil premises close by.

Police investigators alerted about the case, confirmed that at the site of the alleged rape, they discovered signs of breakages which somewhat tallied with the version of the victim. A medical certificate issued to the victim by the gynaecological department in hospital was presented in court in relation to the charges.

Although the accused pleaded not guilty, no request for bail was forwarded by his lawyer at this stage.

Inspector Joseph Busuttil prosecuted.

Lawyer Jean Carl Farrugia was defence counsel.