Gang of minors jailed over rape, assault, extortion and theft

In a 122-page judgment handed down by Magistrate Doreen Clarke, 14 minors were jailed this morning for a total of 45 charges brought against them by police in 2004 following lengthy investigations, involving a total of 16 victims, all young girls aged between 12 and 14.

Among the jailed is a 16-year-old girl, who besides being found guilty of luring the young victims to be raped by her male friends, was also found guilty of indecent assault, being in possession of pornographic material and exposing other minors to the same videos. She was jailed for 18 months.

The highest jail term was handed to a 17-year-old youth who was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for his repeated role in raping the young girls, theft, extortion and being in possession of false currency.

Others were handed different jail terms ranging from 18 months, nine months and six months, while five others were got off with suspended sentences.

The judgment contained details of the events which unfolded in Marsascala in between 2003 and 2004, with extracts from evidence given by the minors, some of whom explained how they were all part of a large clique of friends, who ended up being repeatedly abused.

The victims recounted how they were randomly selected to have sex with older peers, while also being forced to pay hundreds of Liri in mobile phone to-up cards for the boys not to tell their parents that they were no longer virgins.

Some of the victims also told the court how they were forced to have sex in alleys on their way home from school, while others were made to steal from cars, and from an establishment in Marsascala.