An unwanted kiss on a waiter’s neck landed an Australian holiday-maker in court on sex crime charges.

Inspector Alfredo Mangion arraigned Michael James Ebzery 67, from Australia on a charge of having committed a non-consensual act of a sexual nature on a waiter at the hotel he was staying at.

The inspector told presiding magistrate Donatello Frendo Dimech that the victim had informed his superiors that the accused had allegedly kissed his neck without invitation. The waiter’s management had then reported the incident to the police.

Lawyers Gianluca Caruana Curran and Giannella Demarco entered a not guilty plea, explaining to the court that the accused had been on holiday and was due to leave on Monday but was ready to bind himself to stay and live at another hotel or alternative accommodation until the case was decided.

“He has never been arraigned in court about anything in his entire life,” Dr Demarco said.

The court banned the publication of the name of the victim, but denied the defence’s request to hear the case behind closed doors.

The court, however, did uphold a defence request for bail, ordering the man to pay a deposit of €1,500, provide a personal guarantee of €2,500 and sign a bail book daily.