A teacher has been charged with the corruption of two boys who were trusted in his care because of his profession.

Joseph Demanuele, 37, from Safi, was accused of corrupting the two boys by forcing them to commit acts which offended their decency and with permitting the taking of photos and the shooting of indecent films or videos.

The man, a teacher in a school which cannot be mentioned by court order, was also accused of offending public morals and

public indecency.

Magistrate Dennis Monte-bello, who presided over the court, turned down a request for a ban on the publication of the man’s name but ordered that neither the school where he teaches nor the victims, who are minors, can be identified in order to protect their identity.

The police, led by inspector Louise Calleja, began investigating the case after receiving a number of reports filed by the victims’ parents about the teacher.

Magistrate Montebello granted Demanuele bail against a deposit of Lm2,000 and a personal guarantee of Lm3,000.