An Ethiopian-born Maltese citizen residing in Qormi appeared in court on Monday accused of raping his wife throughout their 23-year marriage.

The wife had filed a report with the police's Domestic Violence Unit on 14 October, alleging that her husband had raped her during their marriage.

In court, the man denied the charges and was remanded in custody despite his wife's pleas for the case to be dropped. The court imposed a ban on the man's identity.

Testifying in court, Inspector Christian Cauchi said that when the police had asked the woman why it had taken her so long to report the abuse, she had explained it was because of her cultural upbringing.

She had not realised that her husband's actions were wrong. According to her account, she had grown up believing that a wife was effectively an object belonging to her husband. It was only after speaking to family members that she decided to approach the police.

The woman also alleged that her husband had repeatedly humiliated her, telling her that she was ugly and dirty, and that he had married her solely for sexual purposes.

Following the woman's report, the accused was placed on a wanted list. Investigators established that he was due to return to Malta on 23 October and was arrested at the airport after arriving on a flight from Scotland.

During his interrogation, the accused told investigators that he had travelled abroad with his children to explore whether his daughter would be eligible to attend school in England and to look into enrolling his son in a football club there.

The man also claimed that his sister had informed him of the report filed against him by his wife.

Under questioning by the defence, Cauchi confirmed that the accused had been aware of the complaint against him but had nevertheless returned to Malta voluntarily. The inspector also confirmed that the man had initially been granted police bail and had subsequently complied with the requirement to return to the authorities.

During his interrogation, the accused maintained that he had nothing to hide.

Wife wished to drop case

During Monday's court sitting, the wife took the witness stand and told the court that she no longer wished to continue proceedings against her husband. She said she did not want their children to be deprived of their father. "I don't want my children to suffer. They will suffer if I continue proceedings," she told the court.

She was asked by the court whether she intended to continue living with him. She replied that she could not yet make that decision.

The court thus refused to discontinue the proceedings, noting the woman's apparent uncertainty, and ordered that the case continue.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

The defence, led by lawyer Shaun Zammit, requested bail, arguing that the accused had cooperated fully with the police, had a clean criminal record and had voluntarily returned to Malta despite knowing that a report had been filed against him.

The defence also pointed out that the alleged offence dated back approximately a year and that the police had initially considered it appropriate to grant him police bail. It was further argued that the accused was actively involved in caring for his two children.

A friend of the accused also testified, confirming that he was willing to provide him with alternative accommodation at a property he rented.

The prosecution, however, objected to bail, raising concerns that the accused's wife and children had yet to testify in the proceedings.

The court ultimately denied the request for bail. A protection order was also issued in favour of the woman.

Inspector Christian Cauchi prosecuted together with Attorney General lawyer Jurgen Dalli, while lawyer Shaun Zammit appearing for the defence. Lawyer Nicole Attard represented the woman as parte civile. Magistrate Tanya Sammut presided over the arraignment.