A member of the MUSEUM has been acquitted of child abuse charges after a court dismissed the testimony given by a 10-year-old boy, deeming it not credible.  

Anthony Callus, 46, of Siggiewi, was arraigned last year after a 10-year-old boy claimed the man had touched him inappropriately during a day at the seaside.

Mr Callus had suspended himself from the society as well as his job as a head of school until his case was heard.

He had been charged with violent indecent assault, harassment, offending public morals and corruption of a minor.  

The prosecution, led by police inspector Josric Mifsud, had claimed the took place on August 24, when Mr Callus allegedly lifted the boy out of the water and held him in such a way so that his private parts would rub against the boy. 

However the court, presided by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, said it could not believe the version of events given by the boy and said it was convinced that his version was not credible. It was also physically impossible for the abuse to have been made in the way it was claimed.

The court heard how the boy had been refusing to attend MUSEUM classes before the alleged incident. All witnesses who testified in the case corroborated Mr Callus’ version of events. The boy also evaded questions on the contents of his Facebook account, while admitting he had clicked ‘like’ on a couple of adult-oriented pages.

Magistrate Demicoli said it was important that children received sex education but they should also be warned about the grave consequences of making false allegations.

Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Ronald Aquilina appeared for Mr Callus.