A court this morning banned publication of details about a case where an 18-year-old man from Marsascala is accusing of defiling a 14-year-old girl at the Splash and Fun Park.

Defence counsel made a request for the court to ban publication of testimony by the victim and her friend.

Police Inspector Josric Mifsud objected, pointing out that in the Gozo priest sexual abuse case, the court had lifted a ban on publication after noting that there was no connection between the priest and his alleged victims. The situation was similar in this case,

The court, however, decided on an outright ban on publication of the details of the case and asked reporters to leave the courtroom.

Before the ban was imposed, a friend of the accused said they had been on a ride on the ‘lazy river’. They noticed two girls in front of them and at one time his friend fell off the lilo. They later also saw the girls near an ice cream booth.

Then Splash and Fun staff approached them and took them to the staff room. He did not see the accused touching the girls in any way.