A British man who lives in Swieqi was yesterday charged with raping a woman and infecting her with HIV.

Prosecuting police inspector Louise Calleja told the court, presided by duty magistrate Anthony Vella, that the accused and the alleged victim, also British, were drunk at the time of the incident, which happened in the small hours of Sunday morning. The accused was charged with rape and knowingly infecting another person with HIV.

The victim and her boyfriend (another man) are said to have invited the accused and his girlfriend to their Gharghur home for drinks which is when the alleged assault took place. The accused, whose name is not being published to protect the victim, was denied bail and was remanded in custody.

Police inspectors Louise Calleja and Elton Taliana prosecuted. Lawyer Claudio Zammit appeared for the accused.