Updated | John Suda charged with violent indecent assault, accused of indecent touching during acting exercise

Veteran actor John Suda was this afternoon charged with committing violent indecent against a 22-year-old actress whom he allegedly asked to strip to her underwear.

Standing before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, Suda, 64, of St Julian’s, pleaded not guilty to committing violent indecent assault and to holding the woman against her own will.  Prosecuting inspectors Joseph Busuttil and Paula Ciantar told the court that Suda had approached the victim through Facebook, before being shortlisted for a role in a TV that is scheduled to air in October.

The court heard how Suda – a veteran actor best known for his role of 'Salvinu' in popular TV show ‘Simpatici’ – offered the victim one-to-one training for a role in which she would seduce men, parts of which she would be playing semi-nude.

Inspector Busuttil told the court that while the woman was rephrasing the lines, Suda locked the room and kept the key in his pocket. The accused then allegedly blindfolded the woman and asked her to strip to her underwear.

At one point, both Suda and the woman took off their clothes. Suda is also accused of putting her hand on his private part, and of asking the victim to describe what she was feeling. The prosecution said that  Suda stopped the session after the woman burst out crying.

The inspector said that the woman was left visibly shaken, and was told to go to a psychologist and to file a police report. The police also said that one-to-one training sessions was not the usual practice.

Lawyer Bernard Grech, who is defence counsel for Suda, insisted that the woman consented throughout the session. Moreover, the defence lawyer claimed that his client had been asked to stop if ever felt uncomfortable, and that in fact, the session was stopped when she started crying.

The defence also said that Suda was preparing the woman for a part in which she would seduce men.

In submission for bail, Magistrate Aaron Bugeja noted the accused’s clean criminal record, and granted him bail against a deposit of €2,000 and a personal guarantee of €3,000.

Police Inspectors Joseph Busuttil and Paula Ciantar prosecuted, while Lawyer Bernard Grech appeared for Suda.