A support worker facing criminal prosecution for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with four underage migrant girls at an open centre has been granted bail.

Norman Bugeja, 57 of Luqa, is denying charges of having engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with the girls, occasionally paying for sexual favours, offending public morals and committing acts which, as a public officer, he had been duty-bound to prevent.

The man was targeted by police investigations after two of the girls confided in social workers tasked with helping migrant children who had no family to turn to.

As the compilation of evidence continued and after the alleged victims had testified, Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit on Thursday, upheld a request for bail against a deposit of €500, a personal guarantee of €8,000 and an obligation to sign the bail book three times a week.

The court further imposed a curfew and ordered the accused not to approach the alleged victims in any manner whatsoever.

During the arraignment earlier this month, Inspectors John Spiteri and Joseph Busuttil had told the court that the accused had struck up an intimate relationship with one of the girls at the shelter and engaged in non-consensual sex with the other victims who finally decided to spill the beans when they could no longer bear the situation.

The case continues.

Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi, Franco Debono and Alfred Abela are defence counsel.