Law & Order
Man extradited over defilement allegations
By MaltaMedia News
Apr 27, 2007 - 9:00:58 AM

A 57-year-old Maltese man was extradited from the country to face charges of defiling a minor several times over two years in the United States of America (USA). Lewis Muscat is wanted in California on 18 counts of defiling a girl when she was between the age of nine and 11. The offences allegedly took place between June 2003 and November 2005.  

The man was flown to San Francisco International Airport guarded by Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) agents on Wednesday and subsequently detained at Sacramento County jail after fighting extradition for over a year.  

USA authorities demanded the man to be extradited in March 2006. The Maltese court ordered his extradition, however Mr. Muscat, originally from Ħamrun, appealed against the decision in August stating that the charges pressed against him are not included in the terms of extradition as prescribed by the Maltese law. The Appeal had also highlighted that Lewis Muscat attempted to take his own life and received treatment for mental problems numerous times adding that his extradition could lead him to another suicide attempt.  

Later during the same month the defence council asked the Criminal Appeals’ Court to refer the case to the Constitutional Court saying that the human rights of the defendant would be breached if he is extradited.  

In September California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a declaration in which he stated that if Mr. Muscat was extradited and found guilty he would not be treated in a crude manner in prison. In January the Constitutional Court ruled that Mr. Muscat would not be tortured should he be imprisoned in California, allowing the USA to go ahead with extradition proceedings.  

Documents sent from the US included allegations made by Mr. Muscat’s own daughter, Connie Muscat. Additionally, another daughter of Muscat’s, called Lewis Barker, alleged that she and her brother James were also abused by the man.  

Mr. Muscat lived in the USA for about 40 years before returning to Malta.