Pensioner charged with sharing child sexual abuse material
Court rejects request for ban on publication of name
A 67-year-old pensioner was arraigned on Friday and charged with sharing child sexual abuse material involving children aged under nine years.
Carmel Zammit from Żebbuġ was accused of obtaining such material and of recidivism.
He pleaded not guilty.
A request by his legal aid lawyer Martin Farrugia for a ban on the publication of the accused’s name was denied by the court after prosecuting police inspector Marcus Cachia argued Zammit had already been convicted of similar offences in the past and, if he is found guilty, his name will be added to the registry of sex offenders.
Cachia told the court police received two reports from the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children about a local IP address sharing child sexual abuse material online.
The police traced the address to Zammit’s house where he lives with his family. An arrest warrant was issued and the police seized all electronic devices in the house.
The police found child sexual abuse material on Zammit’s devices and a video of the old man watching such material.
Bail was not requested at this stage and the man was remanded in custody.
Magistrate Giannella Camilleri Busuttil presided.
Police inspector Marcus Cachia prosecuted.
Legal aid lawyer Martin Farrugia appeared for the accused.