A man on Monday was charged with raping a woman after she was lured to a Żejtun apartment to learn massage techniques.

27-year-old machine operator Amal Kunhikannan was accused of rape, holding the woman against her will and committing non-consensual acts of a sexual nature.

The Indian national, who resides in Żejtun, pleaded not guilty when he was charged before magistrate Ann Marie Thake.

Police inspector Wayne Buhagiar told the court that the alleged victim, a Colombian national, filed a report with the police explaining that she had seen an advert on Facebook for work as a massage therapist.

The woman was told to go to a Żejtun apartment to learn the techniques. She was given a phone number and a location, where she went on the same day.

When she turned up at the apartment she found the accused, who removed her clothes, leaving her in her underwear. He held her hands and spread oil all over her body before allegedly inserting his fingers and raping her. 

A magisterial inquiry was opened into the case and the man was eventually arrested. 

Bail was not requested and a protection order was issued in favour of the alleged victim.

AG lawyer Cynthia Tomasuolo prosecuted assisted by police inspector Wayne Buhagiar. Legal aid lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young assisted the accused.