A Serbian national on Saturday was charged with sexually abusing minors and possessing pornographic footage of them.

A 15-year-old was allegedly the first one out of a number of victims who spoke out after their relationship was terminated. Two other alleged victims reached out to police after the 15-year-old claimed she was sexually abused and that the accused had taken footage.

Bojan Ambrus, 39, resident in St Paul's Bay, was accused of sexually abusing minors aged between 12 and 15 and that he had in his possession indecent material featuring children.

Inspector John Spiteri told the court, presided over by Charmaine Galea, that the accused had committed similar crimes in Canada. 

Ambrus was also charged with voluntary damage caused to a police car as well as causing slight injuries to a police officer while he was being arrested in Mellieha.

His legal aid lawyer, Raisa Colombo, asked the court to order a ban on the publication of his name.

The prosecution objected, said that if his name is published in the media, other victims might come to light.

The magistrate ordered that the accused be remanded under arrest.