Updated 8.40pm with details

Two priests are to be arraigned in Gozo on Wednesday accused of rape and child abuse, the police said.

The accused - Joseph Sultana, who is in his 80s and served for some years abroad and in Xagħra, and Joseph Cini, who is in his 70s and was parish priest of Għasri between 1992 and 2004 and also served in Xagħra - allegedly abused an altar boy a number of years ago.  

Both denied the claims during interrogation, sources said. 

In 2011, Times of Malta had reported that Fr Joseph Sultana was at the centre of a lawsuit over alleged child abuse in Australia but had refused to return to that country to face his accuser, also a former altar boy. The Gozo Curia had said that the claims appeared to be unfounded. 

In a statement on Tuesday, the police said its vice squad had gathered enough evidence to proceeding criminally against the two Gozitan priests. 

The two were arrested on Monday night and interrogated for long hours at police headquarters in Floriana. 

The case was brought to light after a report submitted to the Safeguarding Commission within the Curia.

In a statement, the commission confirmed it had handed information to the police and urged anyone having information on any alleged case to contact it on
info@safeguarding.mt and also contact the police. 

No further details were given.

The arraignment will take place before Magistrate Monica Vella. 

The revelation comes just two months after a priest was jailed for three years for sexually abusing a teenage boy who was entrusted into his care. 

Donald Bellizzi was convicted of sexually abusing the then 13-year-old boy, who used to attend a special group for those who were keen on becoming priests.