Jailed for indecent assault - September 27, 2002

A Libyan man was yesterday jailed for 14 months for violently and indecently assaulting two 16-year-old girls in a Paceville flat two years ago.

Salah Di Ali Agouri, 39, was also found guilty of defiling the girls and slightly injuring one of them. He was however acquitted of raping the girls and holding them against their will on July 15 and 17, 2000.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera noted how the girls were sexually experienced and provided the contraceptives themselves.

She noted that one of the girls had reported Agouri while the other had said she had not felt the need to report him although she claimed to have had sex with him against her will.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera ruled it was more likely that the girl who had reported Agouri had gone along with everything until the crucial moment and had then asked him to stop but he did not want to.

Forensic tests did not yield any traces of bodily fluid.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera noted Agouri's clean criminal record and ruled that the prosecution had not proven the rape charges sufficiently.

Agouri will be deported after serving time.

Police Inspectors Pierre Micallef-Grimaud, Sharon Tanti and Neville Xuereb prosecuted.