64-year-old actor John Suda was granted bail today after entering a not guilty plea in court.

He was charged with committing violent indecent assault on a 22-year old St Julian's woman.

The court heard how Mr Suda approached the woman through Facebook when she was shortlisted for a TV series he authored.

She was offered one-to-one training for the part and she accepted. The session was held in Fgura, and the Prosecution said he locked the room and blindfolded the woman. He then proceeded to ask her to strip to her underwear.

The court heard that they both ended up in the nude, then the actor grabbed her hand and placed it on his private parts, asking her to give a description of what she felt.

The court heard that she burst into tears and that the accused stopped the session when he realised this. The prosecution also contacted Herman Bonaci and Frida Cauchi, the series producers, and claimed they said they hadn't heard of any auditions. The accused claimed he had carried out similar auditions even with Ms Cauchi herself.

The defence stated that she was being prepared for a part where she would seduce men through sexual advances. They also argued that Mr Suda told the victim several times to tell him to stop should she feel uncomfortable. He denied plcing the woman's hand on his private area, stating that she did so when he asked her to.

Bail was granted against a €2,000 deposit and a €3,000 personal guarantee.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja presiding and police inspectors Joseph Busuttil and Paula Ciantar prosecuting. Dr Bernard Grech appearing for the defence.

Writing on Facebook, Mr Suda said that due to the sensation way that the media reported the incident, "against my own wishes and deep sorrow, I felt that i should withdraw from the production 'Faith Hope and Charity' so as not to prejudice the production, the director, the cast and all those involved". He said that he had removed his beard for the part he would have played, but circumstances now were different.

He wished the production all success and thanked all those who showed solidarity. "It is in these moments that you learn who your true friends are," Mr Suda wrote.

In a statement, Frida Cauchi, employed with Hermann Bonaci Productions categorically denied that she ever held any auditions whatsoever with John  Suda, let alone any such auditons as were described during the above mentioned proceedings. "Not only there were no such sessions or auditions that came near to doing anything remotely similar to the events described during the above mentioned proceedings, but I have always been adamant that drama rehearsals, auditions or sessions by whatever name called, must always be free of any such acts which are not only undesirable but absolutely unacceptable."

In another statement, Hermann Bonaci Productions declared that it had no knowledge whatsoever of the events described in the above proceedings. The company said it would have never approved any such behaviour because it goes directly against the ethical code of conduct and ethos of this Drama Company. 

Both Ms Cauchi and the company reserved the right to take action against any person for damage they may suffer as a consequence of the claims.