A 50-year-old man accused of having intercourse and carrying out sexual acts with a dog, and causing it to suffer, has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty.

Asghar Ali, a Pakistani road labourer, was arraigned under arrest after police were alerted to the alleged incident at around 8.30pm on 15 September.

The prosecution told the court that police had been informed that a man had been apprehended in a field after allegedly being caught carrying out sexual acts with a dog.

Video footage allegedly showed Ali approaching the dog and grabbing it. The dog began barking before it could later be heard whining. The man then allegedly moved further into the field, with the footage showing only the dog and the accused's head.

He was subsequently arrested.

Police also established that a similar incident had allegedly taken place on 28 August and had been captured on CCTV.

When questioned, Ali allegedly told police that he had been under the influence of alcohol and could not remember the events. He nevertheless confirmed that he was the person seen in the footage.

Ali pleaded not guilty.

He is charged with causing an animal unnecessary pain, suffering or distress, or subjecting it to activities which are not in its nature, in breach of the Animal Welfare Act.

He was also charged with unlawfully entering a field belonging to another person after allegedly having been warned by the owner not to enter, or alternatively entering without the owner's knowledge, under a false pretext or through other deceit.

The prosecution alleged that the offences constituted a continued offence, having allegedly been committed through several acts at different times in execution of a single purpose.

The defence requested bail. The prosecution objected, arguing that eyewitnesses still had to testify, while pointing to the accused's lack of family ties to Malta and the gravity of the alleged offences.

The court denied bail and remanded Ali in custody.

Magistrate Tanya Sammut presided over the sitting.

Inspector Antonello Magri prosecuted. Legal aid lawyer Yanika Bugeja represented the accused.