M.U.S.E.U.M catechist charged with defiling 10-year-old

A 46-year-old school assistant and a treasurer of the Society of Christian Doctrine (M.U.S.E.U.M) was today remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to corrupting and defiling a 10-year-old boy at Bahar ic-Caghaq on Sunday.

The incident occurred on Sunday 24th August, when the accused, Anthony Callus, of Siggiewi, was swimming at Bahar ic-Caghaq during a MUSEUM event. At some point in time, Callus “grabbed the 10-year-old boy from his waist and lifted him out of the water,” – which according to the prosecution then led to the accused “slightly brushing the boy’s genitalia.”

Callus also pleaded not guilty to harassment, violent indecent assault, and offending public morals.

Sources close to the case said that the boy was lifted from the a deep part of the sea  before he fell back in. The accused, then lifted the boy again, and the boy perceived this as being tantamount to indecent assault.

Standing before the Court of Magistrates this morning, prosecuting inspector Josric Mifsud told the court that when lifting the boy from the sea, the accused allegedly “used his legs to hold the boy in such a way that the man’s genitals were behind the boy’s buttocks.”

Defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi explained to the court that both his client as well as the alleged victim agree on the version of events, but insisted that while the victim perceived the action as one “leading to abuse,” the accused did not.

“The accused merely helped the boy come out of the water, and the boy perceived this as leading to abuse and indecent assault. Both the alleged victim and my client agree on the sequence of events, but on his part, the boy is saying that his genitalia were brushed by the accused,” Dr Azzopardi said.

In submissions for bail, the defence held that there is no fear of tampering of evidence because the victim lived with his parents, and that he has a clean criminal record. Moreover, the defencetheld that there is no fear of absconding and told the court that due to the charges against Callus, he has to resign from his post at school and MUSEUM – thus alleviating any fears of relapsing.

The prosecution objected to bail.

In its decree, the court, presided by Magistrate Giovanni Grixti, denied the request for bail and remanded the man in custody, arguing that “it would be a mistake in thinking that tampering of evidence could only take place by face to face contact.”

Moreover, he ruled that the granting of bail would be perceived as “an obstacle to the administration of justice.”

Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted, while Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi is defence counsel.