A man from Guinea who escaped police custody and was re-arrested, was taken to court today and remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to raping a 23-year-old woman in St Julians.

Seykou Ballde escaped from St Julian's police station on Monday evening was re-arrested late yesterday in Qawra.

He escaped after slipping out of handcuffs that had not been properly tightened.

Mr Ballde, who said that there was a mistake on his ID card as he was 22 not 32, denied raping the woman early on Monday, slightly injuring her, committing violent indecent assault, committing indecent acts in public, holding the woman against her will, resisting his arrest, slightly injuring a police officer, escaping from police custody and refusing to give his details to the police.

He was further accused of breaching the bail conditions over another case in which he stands accused of beating a prostitute and assaulting police officers.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, heard how the man had originally been arrested when officers of the Rapid Intervention Unit heard a woman's screams as she was allegedly being raped in Paceville on Monday at 3am.

Mr Ballde, who spent the entire arraignment with his hands in his pockets as he was surrounded by three police officers, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. He did not make a request for bail and was remanded in custody.

Police Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted. Lawyer Anthony Cutajar appeared for the man while lawyer Peter Fenech appeared parte civile for the alleged victim.

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