Update 4 | Priest in child abuse case released on bail

Gozo priest charged with child sex abuse • Video by Ray Attard

A priest in his 40s was today arraigned in court in Gozo to face charges of child molestation. He was released on bail against "a hefty" personal guarantee and deposit.

It is understood that the victims were all girls.

The priest was seen leaving the courtroom with his lawyer, getting into a Toyota Yaris and speeding off to avoid journalists and members of the media. The court's decision to ban the publication of the name also restricts media houses from showing his face in photographs.

"Some witnesses, who are still young, are afraid to testify," sources told this newspaper.

Magistrate Paul Coppini upheld a request by the priest's defence lawyer, Carmelo Galea, for the case to be heard behind closed doors. The request was upheld almost immediately by the court.

However, it is thought the magistrate put the sitting forward by 24 hours after arguing that the prosecution had enough evidence to proceed. So far there is no ban on the publication of details, which is normally reserved for cases involving minors who are related to the accused.

The court agreed to a ban of the publication of proceedings, his name and names of the victims. The decision conflicts with a decision taken by the Maltese courts last week where the court turned down a request by a man from Valletta for his name not to be divulged. Similarly, the man was accused of raping and sexually abusing a minor.

The priest, who covered his face from the cameras, is in his 40s and is being accused of defilement of minors. It is unclear whether he is being charged with rape and other sexual abuse offences.

MaltaToday is informed that when the minors were approached for questioning, “they knew instantly what they were being asked about”.

Inspector Sylvana Briffa leads the prosecution.

The priest, wearing casual clothes and flip flops, stood in the dock sheepishly nodding as proceeding began.

Reporters were told by police that the alleged abuses took place over a series of months.

Godwin Scerri and Charles Pulis, formerly members of the Missionary Society of St Paul, were sentenced to five and six years' imprisonment respectively for sexually abusing boys in their care at St Joseph Home in Sta Venera. Their case was the last arraignment on priestly sex abuse after they lost their appeal against the convictions.