A 57-year-old man from Senglea has been accused of raping the 14-year-old daughter of the partner he had been living with on three occasions, without the consent of the minor.

Prosecuting inspector told presiding Magistrate Aaron Bugeja that they received the information from Agenzija Appogg, a state social welfare department, which in turn had received an anonymous tip. He told the court that sexual activity had been carried out with the knowledge of the girl's mother, and for some reason she did not file a report with the police.

He is charged with raping the minor, corrupting her and carrying out sexual activities with her over the period between October 2015 and August 2017. The red-faced accused, who is employed as a maintenance worker, pleaded not guilty while looking visibly upset, dressed in a t-shirt, tight denim Bermuda shorts and flip-flips.

Prosecuting inspector John Spiteri objected to a request for bail on the basis that the child looked to him as a father figure and there was a risk of the accused approaching the victim, who is one of the few witnesses available for testimony.

Lawyer Franco Debono, representing the accused alongside lawyer Amadeus Cachia, argued that the accused had an alternate residence he could stay at and that the charges did not meet the criteria under which bail should be refused, referring to Article 575 of the Criminal Code.

Bugeja ruled that the granting of bail would be premature, and therefore rejected the plea. He also ordered that the accused be placed in a separate unit within Corradino Correctional Facility, in order for his safety to be ensured.