Birzebbuga man charged with rape of neighbour

A man from Birzebbuga has been remanded in custody after he was charged with raping his neighbour in a car park.

Inspector Joseph Busuttil charged the 46-year-old with rape and offending public decency as well as with causing slight injuries to the woman.

Sources explained that the man and his Eastern European victim – a neighbour of the accused – had been out drinking. The woman told police the accused had offered her a lift home and that she had accepted. However, instead of her house, the man is believed to have driven her to a secluded car park and raped her.

The woman, who was intoxicated, had come-to while still in the car and had escaped after a struggle with the accused, calling the police from the nearby Playmobil factory.

Before magistrate Marseanne Farrugia this morning, the man pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Defence lawyer Jean Carl Farrugia did not request bail at this stage.

The court ordered the man be remanded in custody and the case to be assigned according to law.