A 23-year-old man has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to raping a 10-year old girl, in a case of sexual abuse which allegedly started when she was just seven years old.

The accused, Marsa shopkeeper Catriel Scicluna, was charged this morning before Magistrate Joe Mifsud with rape and and engaging in sexual activities with a minor.

Prosecuting officer inspector Paula Ciantar, told the court that the case came to light last Friday when the victim, who is now 14 years old, confided about the alleged abuse to the school councillor, who in turn alerted the child protection unit.

Though the girl is yet to give a formal statement under oath, she had described her ordeal in detail to protection officers, saying the abuse had been going one since she was seven, the court heard. The prosecution noted that the child had also claimed that when she was 10 the accused had tried to rape her.

During bail submissions, the defence led by lawyer Marion Camilleri insisted that Mr Scicluna should be granted bail, in view of the fact that the case was based entirely on the 14-year-old's allegations. However, the prosecution insisted that the charges were very serious, and that the alleged victim sounded “genuine”.

Furthermore, there was a risk of the accused approaching the girl who still had to make a statement under oath, the prosecution argued. 

The court turned down the bail request.

Lawyers Marion Camilleri and Yanica Vidal were counsel for the defence. 

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