A foreigner was remanded in custody yesterday after he pleaded not guilty to raping a 60-year-old woman on Wednesday afternoon in Birkirkara.

The 49-year-old man, who lives in Birzebbuga, pleaded not guilty also to violent indecent assault on the woman, detaining her against her will and committing actions that made her fear violence would be used against her.

The court, presided over by magistrate Doreen Clarke, ordered a ban on the publication of both the accused and the alleged victim in order to protect her identity.

Defence Counsel Giannella Caruana Curran requested bail on account of her client’s reliability, given that he has been living in Malta since 2000, has a wife and Malta-born children, works on full-time basis and has a clean police record.

The magistrate turned down the request and remanded him in custody in order to prevent him from meeting the alleged victim as they used to meet on the same bus.

Police Inspector Nikolai Sant and Elton Taliana prosecuted.