Algerian charged with kidnapping his son

An Algerian man was yesterday charged with kidnapping his five-year-old son when he took him out of the country without his wife's consent in August.

Lanouar Bounab, 33, of Sliema, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping his son Yosef and breaching a child custody order.

Bounab was also charged with extortion, forging his wife's signature on a public document on and before February 2001, and making use of a forged passport before October.

Dr Martin Fenech, for Bounab, requested bail and explained that his client had voluntarily come to Malta just a week after he sent his son back.

This, the defence lawyer said, showed that there was no risk that the incident would be repeated or that he would abscond. Neither was there the risk that Bounab would try to influence witnesses since most of them were policemen.

But the prosecution objected to the request, saying that Bounab had left Malta with his son on August 2 despite a warrant of prohibitory injunction to ensure that the boy could not leave the island without the consent of both parents.

Bounab had forged his wife's signature in order to be able to take his son with him to Algeria and had been planning the trip for over a year, Inspector Louise Vella, prosecuting, said.

The prosecution also said that the fear that Bounab would try to abscond was increased by the fact that he had already breached a court order once before.

In addition, Bounab had not returned to Malta voluntarily, as the defence claimed, but had tried to go to Canada from where he was then sent to Malta.

Besides, there were other witnesses apart from policemen and there was a risk they could be influenced if Bounab was granted bail, the prosecution said.

Magistrate Joseph Cassar denied the request.