Doctor to be charged in child sex abuse images investigation
Man found through an international probe involving Maltese and Italian authorities
Updated 9.05pm
A medical doctor who will be charged over possession of child sexual abuse material has been suspended from his duties in the health sector, Times of Malta can confirm.
Sources close to the investigation said the medic, whose job would place him in direct contact with patients of all ages, was found as part of an international investigation.
To safeguard patients, health authorities immediately removed him from his duties in the health sector when police informed them of the charges.
Sources said the police found child sex abuse material on the doctor’s computer during a search, leading to the seizure of his electronic media. They said the investigation was a joint operation between Maltese and Italian authorities.
Under Maltese law, the possession of child sex abuse images is a serious criminal offence governed primarily by the Criminal Code (Chapter 9). The law prohibits making, producing, distributing, importing or possessing such material.
It also makes it a crime to knowingly obtain access to or possess indecent material depicting a minor through information and communication technologies.
Recent legal updates clarify that accessing child sexual abuse images through digital means is equivalent to physical possession. If found guilty, offenders can land a prison term of up to five years, and sentences can be harsher if there are aggravating factors.
Penalties are increased if the offence involves violence, criminal organisations, or if the offender abused a position of trust or authority. This means the doctor could face significantly harsher penalties if convicted, especially if prosecutors argue that his professional role constituted a position of trust, an aggravating factor that generally triggers increased prison terms under Maltese law.
The doctor is expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks.
Times of Malta sent questions to the Medical Council of Malta to ask if it intends to suspend the doctor’s warrant. The suspension would force him to also stop practising medicine privately.
The council regulates the medical and dentistry professions and registers new medical practitioners while safeguarding patients’ rights and safety.
One of its functions is to investigate allegations of wrongdoing against medical professionals and has the legal power to issue fines, suspend warrants and even strike professionals off the register.
Questions were unanswered at the time of publication.
Reacting to the news, the Lisa Maria Foundation said this was a "cruel reminder" of the hidden nature of child abuse.
In a statement on Friday evening, the foundation said the case also "highlights how effective safeguarding can be in stopping abuse and abusers in their tracks, and protecting children and youth".
"These international efforts to flag such abuse of children is indeed encouraging and send a message that abuse will be brought out of the shadows," the foundation added.