Suspected rapist had been deported

The Libyan man being sought by the police in connection with last week's rape in Floriana had been deported from Malta last November after he pleaded guilty to charges of theft, assaulting a fellow Libyan and carrying a knife without a police permit. He had also pleaded guilty to being in Malta illegally.

The man, Ashref Mohamed Ahmed Aroud, had been living in Floriana at the time and had broken into an Msida flat where another Libyan was living.

He had been handed down an 18-month jail term suspended for three years and was deported.

The police issued a photograph of the suspect on Friday and sources said several people called the police yesterday, claiming to have seen him. Searches, however, have so far proved negative.

The man is suspected to have raped a 55-year-old Floriana woman in a subway near Portes des Bombes. He also broke one of her legs and caused her other injuries.

The police preferred to release the photo on Friday rather than issue an identikit earlier, as they wanted to circulate the best possible image. The police said people should be aware that the suspect could easily change his name to hide his identity.

The suspect stands out as he is about six feet tall and well built. His hair may be shorter than what it looks like in the photo and he might be sporting a week-old beard or moustache. The man was clean-shaven and had very short hair a week ago.

Police sources said it was not the first time that people who were deported, particularly immigrants from North Africa, returned to Malta within weeks, often with a new passport.

"All it takes for them to get a new passport is to spell their name differently, and they are unlikely to be stopped by the immigration police," the sources said.

Over the past week, policemen from the Vice Squad and the Criminal Investigations Department spoke to and photographed a number of men, most of them foreigners, who fitted the description of the suspect and they were shown to the victim.

The sources said her description of the suspect has been very consistent throughout.

Anyone having information on the man should phone 2122-1111. The anonymity of callers would be respected.

Inspector Louise Calleja is investigating.