A man charged with raping his former wife has been remanded in custody.

The man, a 30-year-old Libyan, was charged with raping the woman, with whom he had children, in his Sliema apartment on Christmas eve. He was also accused of  performing a non-consensual sexual act with her and threatening her. He is pleading not guilty.

The accused, who cannot be named by court order to protect the identity of the woman and children, continued to call the woman and attempted to interfere with witnesses even while under police custody. He also expressed an intention to leave Malta for China, prosecuting Inspector John Spiteri told the court.

Insp. Spiteri said that the accused was called in for questioning after the woman reported the assault. Although he was warned not to approach the woman, he was at her residence in less than 15 minutes after leaving the police.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Gabriella Vella, issued a temporary protection order in favour of the woman and warned the man that if he tried to speak to her again he faced a €7,000 fine and prison.

The accused said he had no wish to contact the woman and surrendered his mobile phone to the police. He is to be held at the forensic ward of Mount Carmel Hospital due to expressing suicidal thoughts.