Two more men were charged today with sexual abuse on underage boys, bringing the total to five.

On Monday, three men were arraigned before the court accused of engaging in sexual activity with underage persons. They were also accused of distributing and showing underage pornographic material and of inducing persons under age to prostitution.

Today, another two persons were charged in connection with the same case the police have been investigating in the past weeks.

A 66-year-old of Zejtun pleaded guilty to coercing a 15-year-old boy into prostitution or into participating in a pornographic performance and to participating in sexual activities with a minor.

The charges carry up to five years imprisonment each but the magistrate jailed the accused for two years and nine months, also ordering a three-year treatment order. 

The magistrate upheld lawyer Carm Mifsud Bonnici's request for a ban on the publication of the accused's name.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Joseph Busuttil said that the convict's name would still need to appear on the sex offenders' register.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona ruled that there was no need for the man's name to be published in the media, as long as the man's name is listed in the register.

The second man to be arraigned was a 36-year-old self-employed from Kercem, Gozo. He was charged with identical offences involving four adolescent boys, aged 14 to 17. He entered a not guilty plea.

The court again upheld lawyer Franco Debono's request for a ban on the publication of the man's name.

Dr Debono submitted a request for bail, which was denied and the accused was remanded in custody.