A Syrian man who has a wife and five children in his home country yesterday vehemently denied raping a Romanian woman as he was giving her a lift home after she got drunk in Paceville.

Ahmad Sheikh Ahmed, 38, denied raping the 23-year-old woman in his car early on Sunday morning in Mosta, a few streets away from her residence.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona denied his request for bail after noting that several civilian witnesses had to testify in the case and there was a justified concern that he might tamper with evidence.

Defence counsel Joe Brincat said his client was contesting the charge, adding that the woman was drunk and he was just helping her get home safely. He explained that the story unfolded on Saturday evening when the woman was drinking in Paceville with her friend.

The woman got drunk so the defendant’s brother carried her down to St George’s Bay to get some fresh air and called the defendant to give her a lift home. The woman’s friend refused to accompany her.

After he had driven her home, the woman claimed that his client had raped her.

The prosecuting officer, Joseph Busuttil, said that while it was true the woman was drunk, she was still in her senses as she was giving him directions to explain where she lived.

He said court experts who had been appointed to examine the woman confirmed that the woman had bruises, compatible with being restrained, and also had bruising on her intimate parts, compatible with forced penetration.

Mr Busuttil added that the woman identified her aggressor during an identification parade, pinpointing him as the person who raped her.

Magistrate Micallef Trigona turned down the request for bail and he was remanded in custody.

Police inspector Nicholas Vella also prosecuted.