An 81-year-old man was on Tuesday accused in court of having sexually abused a five-year-old girl.

Carmelo Refalo pleaded not guilty to defilement of the minor, facilitating her defilement, committing sexual acts with a person under the age of 16, and committing a non-consensual sexual act.

He also pleaded not guilty to committing the aforementioned alleged offences while under a probation order handed down in 2020 for a similar offence.

The incident allegedly took place on Monday at the accused’s home in Msida, and the prosecution told the court that the accused and the alleged victim were not related to each other.

No further details however emerged as the vast majority of the case – including a video testimony by the young girl – was heard behind closed doors, but it is understood that the man allegedly touched the child's private parts after inviting her into his house for a drink.

Bail was granted given that the main prosecution witnesses, the alleged victim and her father had all testified.  The accused paid a €5,000 deposit to secure bail and signed a €15,000 personal guarantee.  He was ordered to give up his passport and ID card and sign a bail book twice a week.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit presided over the case, while Inspectors Kylie Borg and Colin Sheldon prosecuted with the assistance of Attorney General lawyer Darlene Grima.

Lawyers Ludvic Caruana and Janice Borg made up Refalo’s defence team.