Ag, Police Appeal Priest Bail • Say Name Should Be Published

By Daniel Mizzi
Malta Today
August 21, 2014

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/42534/attorney_general_police_say_priests_name_should_not_be_banned#.U_w66_l_uSp

The Attorney General and the police have today filed an appeal against the Gozo court’s decision to grant bail to a 40-year-old priest accusing of molesting three young girls.

On Tuesday, the Gozitan priest, whose name cannot be published by court order, was granted bail against a deposit of ˆ1,000 and a personal guarantee of ˆ5,000 after pleading not guilty to charges of child molestation, in what it is understood to have been criminal acts taking place over several months and involving a number of minors.

In his conditions for bail, the young priest has been prohibited from approaching the victims and their homes, and also ordered to stay in and around his house.

Despite the police being prohibited from publishing the charges, the priest is said to be facing charges of defilement of minors, and misuse of technology amongst others. In its decree on Tuesday, the Gozo court, presided by Magistrate Paul Coppini, upheld the defence’s plea so the sitting be held behind closed doors, while at the end of the sitting, members of the media were told that the court also imposed the ban on publication of the names of the priest.

However, in its appeal, the police are claiming that there should not be a ban on the publication of the names of the priest.

“There is no reason why the court upheld the request to ban the publication of the names. There was no ban during other cases, and in addition, this case is nothing special,” police sources told MaltaToday.

Moreover, it was held that the accused and the alleged victims are not relatives, and consequently, the decision to ban the former’s name is not justified.

Asked whether the police is objecting to the court’s decision to hold the sitting behind closed doors, sources seconded this decision, arguing that given the sensitive nature of the case, it should be held behind closed doors.

On the other hand, in his appeal, the Attorney General is claiming that the decision to release the priest on bail should be revoked in fear of the priest tampering evidence. In addition, the AG is also calling for the appeals’ court to revoke the first court’s decision to ban the priest’s name.

The case is now expected to be heard before Judge Michael Mallia in Malta.

Sources told MaltaToday that the priest, who is in his early 40s, has been a priest for around 10 to 12 years and he was recently employed as a religion teacher at a boys’ secondary state school in Hamrun.

Victims were said to be aged close to 15, but one of the girls is said to be aged eight years old. The alleged abuse is said to have occurred up until some months ago.

Sources close to the investigation told MaltaToday that a number of minors, all girls, are victims of the alleged abuse, and that despite the court banning the publication of the name and details of the accused, the priest was “well known to Gozitan families.”

“When the girls were approached for questioning, they knew instantly on what and about whom they were being asked about. Gozitans know who he is," a source close to the investigation said. “Some witnesses, who are still young, are afraid to testify.”

Sources also said the priest was said to have been in the company of 15-year-old girls in his boat.

Inspector Sylvana Briffa is leading the prosecution.