A former Malta ambassador to Libya charged with rape and a string of sexual and domestic violence offences allegedly committed against a subordinate, including at the Maltese embassy in Tripoli, has been released on bail.

Franklin Aquilina, 51, who took up the ambassadorial post in September 2025, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech on Thursday.

The 11-count charge sheet alleges shortly after taking up his diplomatic post, Aquilina raped the woman at the Maltese embassy in Tripoli.

He is charged with using force, threats, deceit or pressure to have sex with her without her consent.

He is also accused of unlawfully holding her against her will in order to force her to do something that offended her sexual dignity.

The other charges cover the period between October 2025 up to March 2026.

They include allegations of repeated sexual acts without her consent, threats to report or defame her, and using physical, psychological and emotional abuse to control her.

Aquilina is also accused of restricting her access to money, food, education or work, and causing her to fear violence.

He is further charged with insulting or threatening her.

Several of the charges are aggravated by allegations that Aquilina repeatedly committed the offences and abused his authority over the woman.

Defence invokes ‘secret service’ matters

The case opened with a failed bid by the defence to shut the courtroom doors.

Defence lawyer Matthew Xuereb argued the case touched on sensitive diplomatic terrain including, he said, matters linked to the secret service, the extradition of people from Malta to Libya, and pressure being brought to bear on the accused by third parties.

The prosecution said it was surprised by the claim.

Lawyer Cynthia Tomasuolo, appearing for the Attorney General's Office, said it was the alleged victim herself who had reported being under pressure from third parties. Tomasuolo added that the woman’s visa was on hold.

But the magistrate was not persuaded this justified an in-camera hearing.

The court said that proceedings behind closed doors were the exception rather than the rule, and that the defence had put forward only vague and nebulous reasons for keeping the case from the public.

The court issued a ban on the publication of the victim’s name.

Prosecution fails to link alleged embassy pressure to accused

The defence then requested bail.

It pointed out that Aquilina had been on police bail since the end of May, complying throughout.

Lawyer Matthew Xuereb argued there was little risk of interference with the evidence, given that the woman's account had already been locked in through a magisterial inquiry.

The prosecution objected, telling the court the woman was in Libya and facing ongoing pressure, with her visa allegedly on hold and no way for her to travel to Malta.

“But what does Mr Aquilina have to do with all this?” Xuereb asked.

The magistrate also wanted to know where the alleged pressure was coming from.

“Who is putting this pressure on her?” she asked.

Lawyer Cynthia Tomasuolo said the alleged victim had claimed that third parties at the embassy were behind it.

The magistrate was not convinced that this, on its own, was enough to tie Aquilina with the alleged pressure.

“There needs to be a link between the third parties and the accused,” the magistrate said.

She asked whether there was “even remote” evidence or any trace showing that the former ambassador was behind the pressure.

“Not at this stage,” the prosecutor replied. She nevertheless maintained that the situation was worrying.

The magistrate then turned to the woman’s visa being on hold. She questioned whether the prosecution was suggesting that Aquilina had influence over the Principal Immigration Officer.

“So, are we saying that the Principal Immigration Officer is controlled by Aquilina?” she asked, warning the prosecution to weigh its words.

The visa hold, she pointed out, was an internal administrative matter.

Bail is granted

The court ultimately granted Aquilina bail.

It said that Aquilina no longer had any role or employment at the Maltese embassy in Libya. There was also no evidence, even indirectly, that he was trying to interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the case.

The magistrate also took into account that Aquilina had been sticking to the conditions in his police bail since May.

Aquilina was ordered to sign the bail book three times a week and observe a curfew.

A protection order was also issued in favour of the alleged victim.

The prosecution is being led by Attorney General lawyer Cynthia Tomasuolo, assisted by Inspectors Charlon Borg and Wayne Buhagiar.

Defence lawyer Matthew Xuereb is representing Aquilina.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi is appearing for the alleged victim.