Married man denies raping woman he had just met on a dating app
The alleged victim refused to have sex with her date on the first night
A married man was denied bail on Thursday after pleading not guilty to raping a woman he had met on a dating app.
Onur Arslan, a 36-year old Turkish national living in Marsascala, appeared before the court where he was also accused of committing non-consensual sexual acts on a woman.
The man denied the charges.
It is understood that the man, who is married, met a woman over a dating app and took her out to dinner. Afterwards they went to a hotel room where he allegedly raped her after the woman refused to have sex on the first night.
Defence lawyer Silvan Pulis requested bail arguing that his client owned a house in Malta and has a stable job.
Prosecutor Miriayah Borg objected on account that the man was scheduled to travel to his home country and that there was a fear that he would tamper with the evidence in view of the fact that the alleged victim has not yet testified. The lawyer underlined that the man knows where the woman lives, pointing out the serious nature of the charges and that the proceedings were still at an early stage.
A protection order was issued in favour of the alleged victim.
Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit refused the request and he was remanded in custody.
AG lawyer Miriayah Borg prosecuted assisted by police inspectors Dorianne Tabone, Ryan Vella and Cheyenne Mangion.
Legal aid lawyer Silvan Pulis assisted the accused.