Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/697149
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 JUNE 2016 9 MATTHEW AGIUS A 60-year-old man accused of bringing prostitutes home to share with his seven-year-old son "to prevent him from growing up to be gay" and who whipped the boy with electrical cord when he was unable to participate, has been remanded in custody. Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras heard police inspectors Joseph Busuttil and John Spiteri explain that it had been the pros- titutes themselves who had anon- ymously reported the disturbing case of sexual abuse to child pro- tection agency Appogg. Inspector Busuttil said that a woman who used to live with the accused had gone to the police and reported that he would take her to Marsa for prostitution, where he would wait in the car for her to service clients. She had revealed that he would also force her to have sex with the child and had want- ed to involve the boy in group sex acts with the woman. Among the charges filed was one of knowing- ly infecting persons with an sex- ually-transmitted infection which he had hidden from his sexual partners – an offence punishable by up to nine years in prison. "His reasoning was that he didn't want his son to be gay because he already had two gay family members," added the in- spector. The seizure of a tablet com- puter belonging to the child had allowed police to view the boy's Facebook account. "Nothing but porn" came up in his newsfeed. The police had then spoken to the boy in the presence of a social worker. Inspector Busuttil said that during the course of that conversation, the child had given police reason to believe that code words had been agreed between the son and father for various sex acts. The boy's silence had been bought by threats of him being institutionalised if he revealed his father's depraved actions. By way of example, Inspec- tor Spiteri added that one of the women had told him that there had been times when the boy had not been able to obtain an erec- tion and the accused had shouted at the boy, calling him "pufta" and lashing his back with an electrical cord. Called in for questioning, one of the prostitutes had told the police that the man had also forced the child to have sex with other wom- en, who subsequently confirmed it. Drugs would also be taken in the presence of the child, the in- spector added. Appogg had taken the child into custody and is currently homing him in care, but they had been unwilling to issue a care order because of a ministerial instruc- tion not to issue any more care orders, the inspector told the court. "Luckily the parents both consented to the boy being taken into care." In a statement issued later in the day, the social policy ministry denied the instructions, saying that the social workers had im- mediately asked Magistrate Nev- ille Camilleri to issue a court or- der to protect the minor. "It was the court that refused to do this, despite it being an emergency and that there was the immediate need for the boy to be taken out of his father's home." It was Appogg's social workers who got the father's and mother's consent to have the boy take un- der care. Asked how the investigation had been started, Inspector Spi- teri said that the two women had anonymously informed Appogg of the boy's situation. "Although they were involved in prostitu- tion and drug use they also felt that it was wrong." The two prostitutes were the only people who were taking care of the boy, added the policeman. The accused, who appeared dishevelled and unkempt dur- ing his court appearance, wear- ing creased clothes and sporting several days' growth of beard, did not speak during proceedings. Lawyer Yanika Camilleri, defend- ing, said the accused was pleading not guilty to the charges. Bail was not requested. News St. Paul Street Naxxar | T: 2143 7945/4 E: info@studio9.com.mt W: www.studio9.com.mt FB: Studio 9 Malta SPECIAL OFFERS ON OUTDOOR FURNITURE, BEDROOM & DINING ROOM SUITES, SOFAS & MUCH MUCH MORE! Depraved father beat son, forced him to have sex 'to ward off homosexuality' Man falls off Sliema promenade, lands on rocks A 28-year-old man suffered grievous injuries and was in criti- cal condition after he fell off the Sliema promenade, landing on the rocks. The man, who is from Somalia and resides in Gozo, fell a height of one storey. The police's communications office said medical assistance was requested at around 7.15am in Triq it-Torri. A medical team from Mater Dei Hospital provided first assistance on site and the man was in critical condition. He is now stable. A police investigation is under- way.