Updated | Youth accused of defiling 14-year-old girl granted bail, police to appeal ban on name

18-year-old man charged with touching 14-year-old British tourist inappropriately granted bail • Police set to appeal court's decision to ban the publication of accused's name. 

An 18-year-old man from Marsascala was today released on bail against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €3,000 after pleading not guilty to defiling a 14-year-old British girl while swimming in Bahar ic-Caghaq on Sunday.

The incident occurred on Sunday at around 2:00pm, when the accused, whose name has been banned by court order, was on a lilo together with his brother and a friend at Splash & Fun Waterpark.

Sources close to the case said that at some point, the accused allegedly approached the girl while swimming at the ‘Lazy River’ and touched her while under water.

Appearing in court this morning, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court also heard the alleged victim testify, but this testimony was heard behind closed doors as a result of the court’s ban.

In its plea, the defence counsel requested that the courts ban the publication of the names and the testimony of the victim and her friend. The court presided by Magistrate Charmaine Galea also ordered that the publication of the accused’s name be banned.

The plea was however objected to by prosecuting inspector Josric Mfisud, arguing that on Friday, a Gozo court of appeal lifted the ban on the publication of the name of a Gozitan priest charged with child molestation.

Echoing the appeals courts’ decree, prosecuting inspector Josric Mifsud argued that the name of the accused should not be banned because he is not a relative of the accused and consequently, the “same reasoning applied by the Gozo court should be followed in this case.”

Notwithstanding the prosecution’s objections, the court upheld the defence’s plea and ordered that the publication of the names of the accused and the victim be banned. Moreover, it held that the sitting be held being closed doors.

But despite the court's decision, sources close to the case have revealed that the police are expected to file an appeal against the court's decision to ban the publication of the accused's name. 

Prior to the court imposing a ban on the proceedings, the court heard the accused’s friend testify. Taking the witness stand, the friend, who was accompanying the accused at Splash & Fun together with his brother, explained that they had seen the 14-year-old girl and her friend at the Lazy River, and at some point, he saw the accused’s leg lift up and the lilo he was on float away.

The witness also explained to the court that they did not speak to the girls and also said that he saw the accused do nothing else.

Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted, while lawyer Albert Libreri represented the accused.