Man charged with sex with minor, lawyer complains of age of consent

Lawyer Franco Debono expressed his frustration that Malta was the only country in the world where the age of consent was 18, during a sitting before Magistrate Giovanni Grixti, while representing Stefan Vassallo, 23, accused of participating in sexual acts with a minor.

The magistrate replied that "the law is what it is" and that he was there to judge according to law, not to change it. Debono however, expressed his hopes that this case would raise public awareness and reignite the discussion of this issue.

Inspector Joseph Busuttil, appearing for the prosecution, told the court that the accused had been in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl, and that both parties' parents were aware ofthe relationship.

Busuttil explained that Vassallo was a recidivist and that he had warned him, in the past, that he was risking a custodial sentence by continuing this relationship.

It appears that the accused's previous convictions were not related to any sexual offences.

Busuttil had warned both accused and the minor not to contact each other, but phone records show that this had continued in spite of his order.

The police inspector objected to bail on the grounds that this contact would almost certainly occur again, and therefore tampering with evidence would be a risk.

Both prosecution and defence agreed that it was not only the accused who would make contact - Vassallo interjected at this point, telling the court that the girl “calls me more than I call her”.

Magistrate Grixti granted the accused bail against a deposit of €1,000 and personal guarantee of €1,500, on the conditions that he does not contact the girl in any way and to file a police report if the girl contacts him again. The court ordered a ban on the publication of the name of the girl.

Speaking to MaltaToday, lawyer Franco Debono - a former Nationalist MP - said that he had made a number of speeches to Parliament regarding the issue of lowering the age of consent, but regretted that no progress had been registered since then.