Eight Minors Charged With Luring Gay Youth To Torri L-Aħmar And Beating Him Up

Eight minors have been charged after they allegedly lured a gay youth to Torri l-Aħmar via a dating app, only to beat him up and steal his phone.

As reported by TVM, four of the youths are Maltese nationals – three males (aged 15, 16 and 17) and a 16-year-old female – and the other four are foreign (a 17-year-old Hungarian, a 15-year-old Filipino, a 16-year-old Tajik and a 15-year-old Macedonian).

Prosecutors said that the incident occurred on 10th March at around 8:30pm. The alleged victim believed he was meeting someone for a date near Torri l-Aħmar but it turned out that he was being catfished.

The eight youths allegedly beat up the young man and stole his phone before catching a bus away from the location. They were traced via the Tallinja app.

They have been charged with assaulting the alleged victim on grounds of discrimination.

They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail under an €8,000 guarantee. They have been banned from contacting the alleged victim, they must sign a police bail book three times a week, and they must observe a curfew between 8.30pm and 6.30am.

The Prosecution is being administered by lawyer Dr Mauro Abela from the Office of the Advocate General and Police Inspectors Lydon Zammit and Stephen Gulia.