A 49-year-old man from Valletta was today remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to raping an eight-year-old girl in 2009.

Emanuel Schembri also pleaded not guilty to defiling the girl, participating in sexual acts with her and violent indecent assault.

The court heard that he used to be in a relationship with the girl’s mother and the alleged rape happened when the girl was in his care while the mother was prostituting herself.

Mr Schembri, who has two other pending sexual abuse cases involving minors, was also charged with committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended jail term and relapsing.

Legal aid lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace asked Magistrate Anthony Vella for bail and to order a ban on the publication of the man’s name saying he was afraid of the girl’s family.

Police Inspector Sylvana Briffa objected saying there was no connection between the girl and the accused. His relationship with the mother ended years ago, she said.

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