21-Year-Old CPD Officer Released On Bail Following Workplace Harassment Claims
A 21-year-old civil protection officer has been granted bail after denying allegations of sexually harassing a work colleague.
Dean Agius, from Vittoriosa, appeared in court on Thursday morning, accused of committing non-consensual sexual acts and sexually harassing a colleague as reported by Times of Malta.
The alleged victim filed a report on Monday at the Marsa Police Station, claiming that Agius had sexually harassed him, police inspector Elisia Scicluna said.
The alleged harassment reportedly began in February, when Agius allegedly groped the victim, touching his thighs and “running his finger between the man’s buttocks.” Agius was arrested on the spot after being asked to attend the police station.
During the hearing, Agius’s lawyer Franco Debono asked whether the acts could have been meant as a joke. Scicluna replied that the alleged victim had originally taken the acts as a joke, but they eventually became frequent.
She added that Agius allegedly continued the behaviour even after the victim repeatedly informed him “that it was no longer a joke and that he was annoyed with such behaviour.”
The defence requested bail, while prosecutor Kristina Bartolo objected, citing a risk the accused could tamper with evidence. Debono countered that his client had been suspended from work and argued that the court could impose suitable conditions. He said:
“One needs to see if this is an issue of a joke that went too far. Such a determination would emerge from the merits of the case.”
The court granted bail against a €1,000 deposit and a €10,000 personal guarantee, imposing a curfew and requiring Agius to sign the bail book three times a week. A protection order was also issued in favour of the alleged victim.
The hearing was presided over by Magistrates Leonard Caruana and Claire Stafrace Zammit.
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