The 32-year-old man who escaped police custody after being arrested for an alleged rape only to be recaptured last night was remanded in custody today after pleading not guilty to the crime.

The man, Guinean national Seykou Ballde, had been arrested in Paceville at around 3am on Monday morning. Police had heard the victim scream for help and caught the man in the act.

Mr Ballde tried to run away, but was caught by police soon afterwards and taken to the St Julians police station. But he escaped from custody at around 7:30pm that same day after slipping out of handcuffs that had not been properly tightened and running out of the back through a field behind the police station.

His escape triggered police searches and an appeal for information, and Mr Ballde was eventually arrested in Qawra yesterday night, following a tip-off. He offered no resistance.

Mr Ballde, a St Paul’s Bay resident, faced a total of 12 charges, including committing a rape and a violent indecent assault on the woman, holding her against her will, slightly injuring her and offending public morals.

He was also accused of resisting arrest, slightly injuring a police constable, threatening police officers, escaping police custody, failing to give his particulars after his rearrest and of breaching bail conditions imposed over a separate case, in which he was accused of beating up a prostitute and of assaulting police officers.

Mr Ballde, who was escorted by three police officers, pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against him. He did not request bail, and was remanded in custody by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli.

Lawyer Anthony Cutajar appeared for Mr Ballde, while lawyer Peter Fenech appeared as parte civile.

Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted.