Law & Order
Four African men charged with raping woman
By MaltaMedia News
Mar 21, 2007 - 3:25:14 PM

Four African men were arraigned in court on Wednesday, accused of raping a Maltese woman in Albert Town, Marsa, early on Monday morning at around 0330CET. The Marsa Open Centre residents, Abuker Ahmed Abdillraham, Osmar Osman Omar  and Muhammed Ali Hasan from Somalia and Sudanese Anwar Otman Hasan, were charged of holding the 26-year-old woman against her will, raping her, as well as causing her slight injuries.

Abuker Ahmed Abdillraham, along with the Sudanese national were furthermore charged of assaulting and threatening a man who happened to be on location where the alleged rape took place.

The same Somali man was also accused of possessing a knife without the necessary police permit.

The Court was presided over by Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona.

The prosecution was led by Inspector Louise Calleja and Inspector Jesmond Borg.

In turn, a 20-year-old Libyan man was sentenced to two years imprisonment after admitting that he attempted to defile a 13-year-old girl.

The incident took place last Thursday at around 1445CET as the girl returned home from school in Mgarr. Nabil Kelfe Hipleg from Tripoli pounced on the teenager, held her and tried to kiss her.

The Court did not uphold the Prosecution's request to hand down a suspended sentence and immediately expulse the man from Malta, due to the serious nature of the crime.

Nabil Kelfe Hipleg is expected to appeal the sentence.

Magistrate Giovanni Griscti presided over the Court .

The prosecution was led by Inspector Paul Bond.

Lawyer Patrick Valentino appeared for the Libyan man.