Lilu King charged with complicity in assault, rape of man

Mohammed Elmushraty, better known as Lilu King, was back in court on Monday, charged with complicity in the unlawful detention, assault and rape of a man. 

He was arrested in prison, where he is being kept over charges in a separate case, after he allegedly suggested switching off CCTV at a shop where a man was allegedly beaten up and raped. 

But his lawyer is insisting he was trying to dissuade the perpetrator from carrying out the assault.

Elmushraty appeared in court alongside fellow Libyan national Noureddin Almahmoudi, 41, who lives in San Ġwann. 

The two men were charged with complicity in crimes committed by Jordan Azzopardi, known as Malta's 'El Chapo', and Abdulmomen Abudagil, which include several counts of sexual assault, theft, unlawful detention, bodily harm, taking sexual footage or photos without consent, violent coercion, extortion, misuse of electronic equipment and causing the victim to fear that violence would be used against him. 

Elmushraty and Almahmoudi pleaded not guilty.

Jordan Azzopardi, known as Malta's 'El Chapo', was charged over the case last month. File photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The prosecution told court on Monday that, on April 21, a man went to the Sliema police station to file a report. He told police he had been beaten up, robbed, threatened with a knife, and raped with an object. 

He added that his former partner had arranged to meet with him at a butcher’s shop in San Ġwann, where the assault took place. 

A magisterial inquiry was opened into the case. 

During his testimony, the alleged victim said that one of the aggressors mentioned that they knew Lilu King. 

The phone call

Police requested phone call records made by Elmushraty from inside Corradino Correctional Facility, where he is currently being detained over separate charges.

It emerged that on April 21, shortly before the alleged incident, there had been contact between Elmushraty and Abudagil. 

During the call, the pair discussed personal matters before Elmushraty told Abudagil to turn off the shop’s CCTV cameras so that the alleged victim is “given a good hiding” (tbeżbiża) and this is not caught on camera.

It was mentioned in court that the word ‘tbeżbiża’ has multiple meanings in Arabic, one of which is ‘to beat up’. 

CCTV footage from the shop was retrieved as part of the inquiry. Almahmoudi, who is employed there, is seen leaving the shop and turning over the sign from open to closed. 

The victim said that after he entered the shop, he saw a person leaving. This person was identified as Almahmoudi from CCTV footage.

Almahmoudi was interrogated and released without police bail, since at that stage, investigators did not yet have the camera footage. He had said that he left the shop at noon and that his employer told him to return at 8pm. 

On Monday, Almahmoudi's lawyer, Jacob Magri, insisted that his only involvement was as an employee at the shop. He said Almahmoudi had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.  

“Just because he left the shop does not mean he is guilty,” Magri said, adding that his client had nothing to do with the “bombastic” accusations levelled at the other alleged perpetrators.  

The defence requested bail for Almahmoudi. The prosecution objected, arguing that the accused was a flight risk with no ties to Malta.

The defence countered by saying he did, in fact, have family in Malta.

Magistrate Monica Vella denied the request, ruling that there was a risk of both Almahmoudi fleeing the country and tampering with evidence. She also issued a protection order in favour of the alleged victim.  

The defence did not request bail for Elmushraty. 

Jurgen Dalli, Darlene Grima and Danica Vella appeared for the prosecution. 

Adreana Zammit, Marion Camilleri and Herman Mula appeared for Elmushraty, while Jacob Magri appeared for Almahmoudi.