A Turkish restaurant owner was this morning charged with the involuntary homicide of 10-year-old Libyan boy, Rodwan Aghil, while he was crossing the road in St Andrew's on Saturday.

Fatih Pancar, 38, from St Paul's Bay, pleaded not guilty to causing the boy's death through negligence, driving his Peugeot dangerously, recklessly and negligently and with excessive speed.

The accident happened across the road from the Luxol sports facilities on at 3.30pm.

Defence lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Kris Busietta told Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit that they were objecting to their client's arraignment under arrest.

But prosecuting officers Trevor Micallef and Carol Fabri rebutted that the alleged crime was an 'arrestable offence' and due to the seriousness of the case.

Moreover, they said they had reasonable suspicion that the accused would flee the island. Dr Azzopardi replied that his client has been in Malta for 16 years and just because he has a passport did not automatically mean that he would abscond.

Magistrate Stafrace Zammit granted Mr Pancar bail against a €500 deposit and a €10,000 personal guarantee.

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