Nationalist MP Franco Debono has raised the point of calibrating the age of consent, noting that it was only in Malta and Turkey that the age of consent was that of 18 years.

He was speaking during the second reading of the Various Laws (Criminal Matters) Amendment Bill which protected minors from sexual abuse through soliciting via the internet.

Dr Debono said that the amendments was a very important tool to strengthen hands of the police and the courts against those committing such heinous crimes. He was all for closing any loopholes and praised the proposed amendments affording protection.

The Bill provided for punishments that fit the crime and the government was committed to make these amendments work.

While strongly stressing the need to protect vulnerable persons, especially children, Dr Debono made references to the age of consent in more than 20 countries. He said it would be wise were the House to reflect on the defilement of 17-year-olds, who in this day and age were quite well informed. He mentioned cases where girls of such an age brought charges of defilement against former boyfriends when jilted and the relation came to an end.

Defilement, he said, must also be seen in the context of the present legal provisions and the age of consent as defined in the Criminal Code.

Noting that the Bill provided for several amendments relating to extradition, he asked whether the Extradition Act should be incorporated in the Criminal Code.

Dr Debono explained in great detail the difference between theft aggravated by grievous bodily harm and theft aggravated by homicide - that already form part of our law - and the new crime being introduced, that of theft aggravated by grievous bodily harm followed by death.