Woman lured to apartment to learn massage techniques, and was raped, court told
The victim had followed up a Facebook advert for a massage therapist
A woman was raped after she was lured to a Żejtun apartment to learn massage techniques, a court heard on Monday.
Details were given during the arraignment of a 27-year-old machine operator who was accused of rape, holding the woman against her will and committing non-consensual acts of a sexual nature.
Amal Kunhikannan, an Indian national living in Żejtun, appeared before magistrate Ann Marie Thake and pleaded not guilty.
The case happened last Wednesday.
Police inspector Wayne Buhagiar explained that the alleged victim, a Colombian national went to the police station explaining that she had seen an advert on Facebook for work as a massage therapist. The woman was interested and spoke with a Facebook profile “Marina Bella”.
The person at the other end told her that she would need to go to a Żejtun apartment to learn the techniques. The woman was given a phone number and a location, where she went on the same day.
At the apartment she found the accused, who removed her clothes, leaving her in her underwear. He held her hands and spread oil all over her body before allegedly inserting his fingers and raping her.
A magisterial inquiry was opened into the case and the man was eventually arrested.
Bail was not requested at this stage.
A protection order was issued in favour of the alleged victim.
Magistrate Ann Marie Thake presided. AG lawyer Cynthia Tomasuolo prosecuted assisted by police inspector Wayne Buhagiar. Legal aid lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young assisted the accused.