Libyan national Nader Abdulaziz Elgerian was yesterday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment while co-national Hasan Mohamed Ahmed was sentenced for 10 years after they were both found guilty by a unanimous vote by a jury.

Elgerian, 29, from Libya, was found guilty of raping Sandra Vikstrom on 14 May 2006 at Shingles Bay in St Julian’s.

He was also found guilty of violent indecent assault and threatening Zakarija Abdisamed Abukar with his life, at the police headquarters on 14 May 2006. Mr Abukar was an eyewitness who helped the police in their investigation.

Hasan Mohamed Ahmed, 28, was found guilty of acting as an accomplice while Elgerian raped Ms Vikstrom.

He was also found guilty of acting as an accomplice while Elgerian committed violent indecent assault. Both men were found guilty of slightly injuring Ms Vikstrom and holding her against her will.

After five hours of deliberation, the jury found both men guilty of all the charges brought against them. Following the guilty charge, Elgerian was also guilty of relapsing.

In handing down his judgment, Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono took into consideration the serious nature of the crime and that with the jury’s guilty verdict, Elgerian was found guilty of relapsing.

The court noted that Elgerian was already previously found guilty of theft and took into consideration Ahmed’s clean police record.

As a result, he jailed Elgerian for 15 years and Ahmed for 10 years.

The court was presided over by Mr Justice Galea Debono while Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara is prosecuting. Dr Joseph Brincat appeared for the two men.