MALTA
Malta Today
Matthew Agius 28 August 2014
An Appeals’ Court has this morning revoked the bail of Fr Jesmond Gauci after partially upholding an appeal filed by the Attorney General.
Fr. Gauci is accused of the sexual abuse of several young girls from Fontana, Rabat and Xewkija, Gozo.
In the appeal, the Attorney General, represented by Dr Kristina Debattista, insisted that it is “unheard of that an accused is granted bail before the victim’s testimony is heard.”
“This is further compounded by the fact that the [alleged] victims are young girls. Moreover, the case took place in Gozo – a small community where the possibility of involuntary encounters between the victims and Fr Gauci is especially probable.”
“The victims are under immense psychological pressure and their concerns that they may end up in contact with the accused are valid,” Debattista said, adding that “the risk of tampering with evidence is a real one.”
Debattista went on to tell the court that she has been informed by the Police inspector that some witnesses are already reluctant to testify.
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