Electronic tag bail granted to man accused of child sex offences
The 25-year-old had asked a seven-year-old girl for indecent images of herself
A 25-year-old man charged with soliciting indecent images from a seven-year-old over social media has become the second case in which people were granted bail subject to electronic tagging.
Darphen Mark Serrano, a Filipino national living in St Paul’s Bay, will benefit from bail only if he agrees to electronic monitoring.
In addition, Magistrate Jean Paul Grech bound him by several conditions, including a €4,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €16,000. He must remain indoors between 9 pm and 7 am and is prohibited from approaching the alleged victim.
A protection order had already been issued in a previous sitting.
During his arraignment in Gozo last month, Serrano was accused of various sexual offences involving minors. These include defilement of a minor and causing a minor to participate in real or simulated sexually explicit conduct, including through electronic means.
In court, it also emerged that Serrano used the name “Mark Vella” when communicating with the alleged victim on Snapchat. He allegedly contacted the minor and requested indecent images from her, despite knowing she was underage.
He has pleaded not guilty.
This is the second case in which bail has been granted subject to electronic tagging.
Last month, a man and a woman agreed to the measure as part of their bail conditions after appealing a jail conviction for theft.
Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera ordered the Local Enforcement System Agency (LESA) to monitor Nicky Falzon and Daniela Spiteri through electronic tagging.
The prosecution was led by AG lawyers Miriayah Borg and Miguel Taliana, assisted by Police Inspector Mario Xiberras. Lawyers Franco Debono and Chris Said appeared for the accused.