Court orders psychiatric assessment of man charged with sexual advances to minor

David Chetcuti, 36 of Mgarr was denied bail and ordered to be kept at Mount Carmel Hospital's Forensic Unit, and undergo a psychiatric assessment, after pleading not guilty to having made sexual advances to a 12 year-old girl.

Chetcuti, who appeared confused before Magistrate Edwina Grima, was charged with having harassed the young girl on a bus as she was returning home. He allegedly sat behind her and started to caress her, and a few days after stalked her by her school in Mosta.

He was arrested within minutes of a report being filed by the school authorities, where the girl ran for assistance.

Visibly dazed and not understanding the situation which was unfolding inside the court room, Chetcuti remained standing in the dock, and didn't utter a word as the charges were read by Inspector Jessica Grima, who also objected to bail.

Magistrate Edwina Grima denied bail and ordered that Chetcuti be remanded in custody, but to be kept at Mount Carmel Hospital's Forensic unit, and also ordered a psychiatric assessment to be prepared by Dr. Joseph Vella Baldacchino, who has to report back about the mental state of the accused.