A man was yesterday charged with violently raping his former girlfriend, who is the mother of his two-year-old son, and holding her against her will on 2 July at Ghar Lapsi.

The 25-year-old man, whose particulars cannot be published by a court order, was charged with violently raping his former girlfriend, holding her against her will, slightly injuring her and performing indecent acts in public.

The court heard that the accused and his girlfriend had a two-year-old child but that they had recently broken off.

Police Inspector Sharon Tanti, who is prosecuting, said the accused had threatened his former girlfriend and her family and that they could not agree on visits he wanted to make to see his child.

Inspector Tanti said the incident was a serious one as it was spread over a number of hours and not just a couple of minutes as in most other cases.

On her part, the victim told the police she did not wish her former boyfriend to go to prison because she did not want to tell her son that his father was in prison.

Following agreement by the prosecution and defence, the court ordered a ban on the publication of the name of the accused or any of his particulars because of the relationship and also to protect the child.

Defence counsels Roberto Montalto and Dr Deborah Del Ceppo requested the court to grant their client bail.

The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds of the fact that the accused and his former partner, who have a child, had recently separated.

The defence argued that the accused was maintaining the child and could lose his job if he was denied bail.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna upheld the request and the accused was granted bail against a deposit of Lm500.

He was allowed to continue working but was ordered to return home right after work until he leaves for work the following morning.

Police inspector Sharon Tanti prosecuted.

Dr Roberto Montalto and Dr Deborah Del Ceppo appeared for the accused while Dr Veronique Dalli appeared parte civile.