Student charged with raping woman inside Qormi apartment
Accused and alleged victim were staying at the same Airbnb apartment
A 29-year-old man has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to raping a woman at a short-term rental apartment in Qormi.
Tony Quinon, a French student, was also accused of holding the woman against her will, performing non-consensual sexual acts on her, as well as harassing her and causing her fear that violence would be used against her.
The alleged victim’s partner, who is abroad, called the police to inform them his girlfriend had been raped while staying at an Airbnb apartment in Qormi. The police went onsite, found the woman and arrested Quinon.
It is understood that the man convinced the woman, also a French national, to let him perform a back massage on her before he allegedly forced himself on the woman.
The accused and the alleged victim were staying at the same Airbnb apartment.
Quinon denied the charges in a court appearance Monday morning.
Bail was not requested.
A protection order was issued in favour of the victim.
Magistrate Leonard Caruana presided.
AG lawyers Cynthia Tomasuolo and Krista Spiteri Lucas prosecuted, assisted by police inspectors Marshall Mallia and John Sammut.
Lawyer George Camilleri assisted the accused.