Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1496383
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 APRIL 2023 4 NEWS MATTHEW AGIUS A 52-year-old man, whose details are sub- ject to a publication ban, has been charged with groping his 12-year-old daughter and harassing her. Inspector Joseph Busuttil told magistrate Joe Mifsud that the girl, who was still in the early stages of puberty, had contacted the Domestic Violence Unit to report that her father had been doing things to her, includ- ing touching her inappropriately, for the past year. The girl's mother would also tell the de- fendant to stop groping the young girl's chest and buttocks, he said. He went on to say that when the police asked the father about this, he told them that he had just been "joking" with his daughter and meant nothing by the actions. Inspector Busuttil told the court that the girl had also opened up to a school counsellor about this. The man was charged with performing acts of a sexual nature without consent on the child and harassing her. He pleaded not guilty. No request for bail was made. Lawyer Brandon Kirk Muscat was Legal Aid defence counsel. Inspectors Joseph Busuttil and Doriette Cuschieri prosecuted, assisted by Lawyers Sean Gabriel Azzopardi and Danika M. Vel- la from the Attorney General's Office. Boat carrying 500 migrants battered by stormy seas in Malta SAR zone Father, 52, accused of groping, harassing his 12-year-old daughter A boat of around 500 migrants is currently Mal- ta's search and rescue zone, humanitarian NGO Alarm Phone has said. The NGO said migrants on the boat are cur- rently facing "very dangerous conditions", with strong winds at 27 knots and high waves report- ed in the area. Alarm Phone said it reached out to the Ital- ian Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC), who suggested they inform Malta as the 'responsible authority'. The NGO was able to regain contact with the boat at around 11:36pm, having lost contact for several hours. "The people on board repeatedly say 'please help us' and ask for immediate assistance. Au- thorities need to act!" the NGO said. At around 10am, Alarm Phone said two merchant vessels are in the vicinity of the boat, trying to shield it from the heavy weather. "We are aware the two merchant vessels are in the vicinity of the boat in distress. But merchant ves- sels are not equipped to carry out such large rescue operation. We ask authorities to mobilise sufficient rescue resources without further delay!" the NGO said. Questions have been sent to the Home Affairs Ministry. NGO says boat facing 'very dangerous conditions' with windspeeds of up to 27 knots